The Jets need a quarterback. More specifically, they need a young, long-term face of the franchise, the likes of which they have lacked since Joe Namath.
But the 2026 draft class only has one high-end quarterback prospect: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who is widely expected to be drafted by the Raiders with the first overall pick. A number of college passers decided to return to school for the 2026 season, leaving New York high and dry with the No. 2 selection.
The Jets would be best served by waiting until the quarterback-rich 2027 draft, in which the No. 1 pick will not be required to land an exciting young passer. In the meantime, though, they will need someone to pass the ball to Garrett Wilson, Mason Taylor, and Adonai Mitchell.
That ‘someone’ could very well be two players. The Jets could take a similar approach to their quarterback room as their stadium-mates did last year. The Giants signed both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency – which did not stop them from trading up into the first-round to draft Jaxson Dart – with the intention of letting the starting competition play out without too much pressure on any one player.
Of the available free agents, new Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich prefers a familiar face, per SNY’s Connor Hughes: Carson Wentz. The two worked together in Indianapolis in 2021 when Reich was the Colts’ head coach. He traded for Wentz despite his sharp regression in Philadelphia the year before, and the former No. 1 pick posted a resurgent season. The Colts moved on from Wentz the following offseason, though the split was driven more by the front office and ownership than by Reich and his coaching staff.
Geno Smith, who was released on Friday, is another option named by Hughes. So, too, is Jacoby Brissett, though he is still under contract with the Cardinals and they do not intend to move him. However, if Jimmy Garoppolo follows Mike LaFleur from Los Angeles to Arizona, Brissett could become available for the Jets.
The Jets have also been connected with veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone, but they are expected to have competition for his signature. They could then pivot to Micah McFadden, a 2022 fifth-rounder who started 35 games for the Giants in his first three NFL seasons but missed virtually all of 2025 due to a foot injury. The Jets have interest in McFadden, but so do the Giants, via both Hughes and ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. Depending on the state of his foot, the 26-year-old may need to consider a one-year, ‘prove-it’ deal, but interest from multiple teams could give him enough leverage for a better deal.
Oooof.
(To the Wentz part. Obviously yes, they should add a veteran QB, and no, it probably wont move the needle much anyway.)
“Babe wake up. He said the thing”
Actually Wentz played well for Minnesota last season with no camp and the players liked him. With the colts, Irsay was the one who got rid of him, not the coaching staff or GM. He was the 10th ranked QB in the NFL that season.
In a great support system last season, he was still felled by his two biggest flaws: He struggles under pressure and he can’t stay healthy. I think you’re overestimating his performance in Indy, but also that was half a decade ago now.
Well (and this is actually somewhat to your point), Wentz was played pretty injured that year. I’d say that he did pretty well. But this is probably more about the ability to pick up Reich’s system than anything. I don’t expect much from whomever they bring in this year, but Wentz also isn’t bulletproof as a starter. If he lasts 17 games, I’ll be surprised. Signing two QBs wouldn’t surprise me. My question is whether or not Cook has any chance to be a backup again, or if he tumbles back down the depth chart.
I think Reich’s “system” is already a bad choice, but yeah. l don’t think Wentz can stay healthy or be all that good in a less than ideal situation. And I don’t think Cook should be any higher than third on anyone’s depth chart, and frankly, I’d rather the Jets take another flier with a mid to late round pick for a third quarterback than Cook. I know you’re higher on him than I am, but I just don’t think the NFL is structured for a quarterback to get as much development once in the league as he would need.
Oh yeah, as much respect as I have for Reich as a coach, I also don’t really like the fit. Reich seems like someone who could do well with stability and a solid foundation, and he’s consistently been missing that since his heyday in Indy…but that’s of an issue with his decision making than anything. For the Jets, this just seems like a move to bring in experience more than anything. I’m not sure I like the fit either, though, at the end of the day.
And don’t worry, I’ve come around to your opinion on Cook. Perhaps with more stability he could grow a bit, but right now, I’m not high on his chances to do so, or to be effective in the current moment.
It’s also just an unfortunate reality of the NFL. If they had a true minor league, I’d see more of a point in guys like Cook. But there aren’t enough reps and coaching hours to develop a guy that raw for an NFL team.
As for Reich, he’s just way past his sell by date. He said himself his NFL coaching days were done when his time in Carolina ended. He came out of retirement to be an interim coach at Stanford. He should not be an NFL offensive coordinator, and I think he only is so that there’s a respectable, stable interim coach if the Jets don’t wait until the end of the season to fire the most obviously pre-fired coach of the season.
Agreed.
Maybe they should just keep Juatin Fields and shoot for 2027….they’re already paying him…..
Plus he’ll provide a guaranteed top 3 pick!
Don’t forget from Wentz you came.
Walk it to em Wentz
“the likes of which they have lacked since Joe Namath.”
LOLJets
Wow, Mark Sanchez does cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and alcohol before getting into one wildly inappropriate fight and everyone conveniently forgets the back-to-back AFC Championship games in his first two years and the butt fumble….
Fair. It’s also fair to say that Mark Sanchez was not a franchise quarterback, though.
And “The Human AI” Mike Lupica omits the part about Sanchez winding up in an Indiana jail, dropped from his TV gig at Fox.
It makes perfect sense for Reich to want Carson Wentz.
He’ll be cheap, and he’s thrived in Reich’s system by far than any other he’s played in over his career.
I’ll wait for the update where the Jets announce they want Christian Hackenberg to return and be a part of their QB competition 🙂
I don’t see why they wouldn’t take a shot with Wentz. He still has something to prove while he can and it could be entertaining. And could be a solid backup if they get to draft a QB the following year. I think he’s been somewhat humbled since coming to the NFL.
Wentz has not been a QB1 in at least 4 years, unlike Tua or Murray.
Tua is the better choice for the Jets as a git ‘er done QB but the concussions and his cold-weather record could come into play.
Don’t disagree at all. Just don’t think they’re (the jets) ready to compete and the other QBs you mention may look for bigger dollars. Wentz can be had on the cheap and has something to play for – his viability. Jets need to get a top pick QB next year. For now build those lines with the picks they have.