Another Jets quarterback search is afoot. With Justin Fields on track to be released, the team may be set to launch a lower-cost effort to staff the position in 2025. One potential candidate is at least a high-profile (and familiar) option.
The Jets are among the teams looking into Tua Tagovailoa, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. While confirming the Jets are considering multiple options, Garafolo places Tagovailoa among them. The Dolphins have not released Tagovailoa yet, but that move is expected to happen due to the QB’s contract being viewed as untradeable.
Arizona is cutting the cord on Kyler Murray, who will be released if no trade can take place. Both Murray and Tagovailoa loom as low-cost free agent options in situations that remind of Russell Wilson‘s 2024 setup. After the Broncos released Wilson, he signed with the Steelers for the veteran minimum. That stuck the Broncos with the tab, as a larger Pittsburgh deal would have trimmed some of Denver’s dead money. Tagovailoa is due $54MM guaranteed; he will be a candidate to sign for the vet minimum, as the Dolphins are poised to break the Broncos’ single-player dead money record soon.
If/when Miami releases Tagovailoa, he will count $99.2MM in dead cap across the next two years — with a post-June 1 designation the only way the team can realistically move on from this ill-advised extension. Because a post-June 1 designation will be used, the Dolphins cannot cut Tua until March 11. But they could allow him to look for a new team. The Broncos proceeded this way with Wilson in 2024. It is not believed the Dolphins have let Tagovailoa shop around yet.
The Jets have played against Tagovailoa for the past six seasons; their new DC (Brian Duker) was on Miami’s staff previously. The Vikings join the Jets in looking into the left-handed passer. While it is unclear if either Minnesota or New York have Tua as the favorite for a vet-minimum slot — Murray has been on the Vikes’ radar for a while — the Jets have some other options in play.
New York may not stop at one veteran arm, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini writes. Even if free agent Tyrod Taylor is in play to return — though, that is far from certain — the team will have multiple open roster spots at the position. Lower-cost options will likely be where this process lands, per Cimini, who mentions possible trade avenues — for Tyson Bagent (Bears), Tanner McKee (Eagles) or Spencer Rattler (Saints) — as a way to fill one of the positions. Teams are asking the Broncos about Jarrett Stidham, whom Jets GM Darren Mougey overlapped with in Denver. Bagent has generated trade interest, and while Rattler makes sense as a move candidate given Tyler Shough‘s emergence, no trade rumors have surfaced about the Saints backup.
Tabbing a starter option in this draft seems unlikely for the team, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes, pointing to the 2027 draft as the better place to take this swing. Several teams will undoubtedly consider this plan, with the 2026 QB crop not viewed as strong beyond likely Raider Fernando Mendoza. While some Ty Simpson buzz has percolated, the Jets will not be a candidate to draft him second overall. An edge rusher appears the plan for Gang Green there.
Instead, a move for a QB on Day 2 or Day 3 could fill out the team’s QB room, Hughes adds. The Eagles have McKee, whom Hughes also links to the Jets as a potential option, under contract for one more season. He served as Jalen Hurts backup last season, after Philly traded Kenny Pickett to begin a busy travel year for the former first-rounder. A former sixth-round pick, McKee drew trade interest before last season as well. He has also been tied to the Vikings as they search for J.J. McCarthy competition.
The Jets have taken a stopgap route at QB before, tabbing Josh McCown to start in 2017 as the team waited on a talented 2018 rookie class. That season (and a 2018 trade with the Colts) produced Sam Darnold at No. 3 overall. With the Jets holding two first-round picks in 2027, what is expected to be a loaded QB draft class could be in play. It will be interesting to see if Aaron Glenn signs on for such a plan, as his seat is warmer after a 3-14 debut season.
This is the Jets doing Jets things. Ty’s is 1 more concussion away from being a vegetable
Aaron Glenn is going to get fired in the pre-season.
As a Jets fan, my view of this upcoming season is more nihilism than anything. I hope they draft well and I hope the young players already on the roster continue to develop, but in terms of actual team wins, losses, and being a football team in the present moment? Nothing means anything.
I doubt they bring in any quarterback “answer” for the 2026 season that’s an answer beyond that or inspires anything better than a cynical shrug.
It made sense to rebuild the way they’re going about it, but this year could be very bleak, especially with what feels so much like a pre-fired coaching staff.
Fatalistic, like the NYC tabloids and talk radio anointing the Giants with their Trump-approved head coach as automatic contenders.
And you gotta admire someone name-checking the Skyrizi commercial (“nothing is everything to me”).
Well I know what all those individual words mean, but that’s about as far as I can get with this one.
Chucky – Here we go again. It’s a Jets article and you’re dumping on the Giants as usual which has nothing to do to do with anything.
Yeahh, none of the options seem like true solutions. The only one with a high enough ceiling is through the draft, a Ty Simpson maybe, but thats not exactly a guarantee of success by any stretch. Feel like we’re going to just waste another year.
Yeah, and even then, if next year is almost certainly going to be a better opportunity to draft a QB and they’re not going to contend this year no matter what, how much do you have to like Simpson to take him with one of your four top 50 picks instead of just building up the roster for the new QB and coach next year? It’s not fun to look at a lost season, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong approach.
lol how sad can you be
Taking a chance on Davis Mills or Tanner McKee makes more sense.
1. Cost to acquire is 5th-7th
2. Cheap salary locked in
3. Win win they do well in 26 great. They don’t great better chance in 27 for top QBs
They should draft Jordan Tyson or trade back for Denzel Boston 16th overall
Should also bring in Andy Dalton to compete
The Texans need Davis Mills for themselves in case CJ Stroud keeps regressing. I don’t see him getting traded.
Stroud had the highest QBR of his career last year finishing 11th in the league
Higher than Herbert Williams Nix Goff Darnold (led league in turnovers) Lawrence Hurts
This is a good illustration of why you shouldn’t just judge quarterbacks by QBR.
But also even if you set aside the idea of Stroud regression, it’s good business for a playoff team to have a backup quarterback they feel good about.
I think they need a different type of back up than Mills who’s a fine back up but I think they need someone with more mobility given their lack of rb production. It’s one thing to be down your starter but to have limited run game and rely on the back up passing just screams recipe for failure. Need a dude who can at least get positive yardage making 3rd downs more manageable
Ok here are his stats
63.9% as a rookie, 4108 yards, 23 TDs, 5 ints
63.2%, 3727 yards, 20 TDs 12 ints
64.5%, 3041 yards, 19 TDs, 8 ints in 14 games missing 3. He was on pace to surpass his career high in TDs and yards
People can talk about “regression” but stats don’t back up that idea.
People talk about his sophomore slump but also fail to mention Collins, Dell, Diggs missing time with injury (Diggs missed 9 games, Collins missed 5 games, and Dell 4 games).
QB struggles with top 3 receivers out- world shocked
It’s not like Stroud himself is a big running threat, and they just acquired a new running back. They need to get the line right more than they need a mobile backup QB.
Strouds a better passer than Mills. Your back up qb is your back up for a reason, they’re not as good at x y z.
Trading Mills and signing someone like Tyler Huntley doesn’t affect their approach towards Oline
I just don’t get why they would do that for a late round pick if they like Mills, which they seem to.
The Jets have plenty of cap space, Tua will be cheap if he’s a free agent, and I don’t think you’re getting either of those guys for a 5th-7th round pick.
I think McKee is worth at least a 5th. Mills a 6th or 7th
Think McKees shown stuff that’s intriguing to warrant at least a 5th or 5th with a pick swap to a QB needy team
I think McKee would cost more than a 5th and would only come with one year of control.
I think Tanner is lowkey a starter. Dude is smart and can throw darts
If you’re looking for a QB who can play in any weather conditions, you should probably look elsewhere……..
I think they need a different type of back up than Mills who’s a fine back up but I think they need someone with more mobility given their lack of rb production
Ok here are his stats
63.9% as a rookie, 4108 yards, 23 TDs, 5 ints
63.2%, 3727 yards, 20 TDs 12 ints
64.5%, 3041 yards, 19 TDs, 8 ints in 14 games missing 3. He was on pace to surpass his career high in TDs and yards
People can talk about “regression” but stats don’t back up that idea.
People talk about his sophomore slump but also fail to mention Collins, Dell, Diggs missing time with injury (Diggs missed 9 games, Collins missed 5 games, and Dell 4 games). QB struggles with top 3 receivers out- world shocked
Assuming a release, if I was Tua I’d take the guaranteed money to be paid by the Dolphins and retire and ensure I never get concussed again.
Yes, Tua definitely has much more to lose than he has from the slight chance that he’s able to perform even capably at this point.
And if I was Kyler Murray, I’d take the Cardinals payout and either go back to baseball or retire from sports all together.