Brady Cook

Although the rebuilding Jets are still devoid of a franchise quarterback, they have made significant changes at the position this offseason. Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor, who combined for 13 starts last year, are now with other teams. The Jets replaced them with new starter Geno Smith, whom they acquired from the Raiders for a late-round pick swap. The deal sent Smith back to where his career began in 2013 as a second-round selection.

Smith had his best years as the Seahawks’ QB1 from 2022-24, but he struggled mightily last season after the Raiders acquired him for a third-rounder and gave him a three-year, $75MM extension. The 35-year-old won just two of 15 starts, threw a league-worst 17 interceptions (against 19 touchdowns) and finished 27th among 28 qualifiers in QBR (34.1). Nevertheless, the Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn have left no doubt Smith will be their starter when the upcoming season begins.

While Smith is entrenched atop the Jets’ depth chart, there is less certainty behind him. They have three other passers on their roster – Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook and fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik – and any of them could conceivably take the Jets’ No. 2 job. Glenn said Zappe is in the lead right now, but the team will hold an open competition for the role (via Brian Costello of New York Post).

The 27-year-old Zappe joined the Jets on a reserve/futures deal in January. He carries the most pro experience of the Jets’ backup contenders, but that isn’t saying much. The Western Kentucky product has made just nine starts since the Patriots took him in the fourth round in 2022. He posted dismal results over a career-high six starts in 2023, and he did not survive final cuts with them heading into the next season.

Zappe’s ninth and most recent start came with the Browns in a 35-10 loss to the Ravens in the 2024 season finale. He was with the Browns again last year, but as a member of their practice squad, he did not get into any games. Over 15 appearances in the league, Zappe has connected on 62.1% of attempts, thrown more INTs (14) than TDs (12), and recorded a traditional passer rating of 76.0.

Cook was part of the Jets’ class of undrafted rookie free agents in May 2025. He joined Fields and Taylor in making starts for the Jets last season, but it was a rough go for the ex-Missouri Tiger. As Fields and Taylor battled injuries, Cook made four late-season starts and suffered lopsided defeats in each of them. He ended his rookie year with a 57.5% completion rate, two scores, seven picks and a 55.4 rating. As ugly as those numbers look, it’s fair to point out Cook had little in the way of help. A Jets team already sorely lacking in weapons lost No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson to a season-ending shoulder injury weeks before Cook got on the field.

Instead of reaching for a QB in a weak class in the first couple of rounds, the Jets used their top five picks (including three first-rounders) to bolster other areas. They finally addressed the game’s most important position at 110th overall, where they grabbed Klubnik. The Jets traded up from No. 128 for Klubnik, a three-year Clemson starter whose stock dropped during a disappointing final season in school. The 22-year-old looked good at rookie minicamp, though, and the Jets have held off on adding a free agent QB because they want to spend more time evaluating Klubnik.

In the event the Jets ultimately go outside the organization for another backup option, it is worth pointing out the team hosted free agent Russell Wilson in late April. The 10-time Pro Bowler said in early May that he was mulling an offer from the Jets, but he is still available three weeks later.

The Jets are entering OTAs without a clear backup for starting quarterback Geno Smith. In the coming weeks, they plan to evaluate their current trio of young passers before adding another veteran.

Leading that group is rookie Cade Klubnik who they traded up to select in the fourth round of April’s draft. The 22-year-old started for three years at Clemson with 241.7 passing yards per game and 71 touchdowns to 21 interceptions. A notable step back from 2024 to 2025 limited his draft stock, but his NFL-ready tools and experience (39 starts in the ACC) give him clear backup potential.

Klubnik performed well at rookie minicamp, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. but the pace and level of competition will increase drastically at OTAs. Proving himself could persuade the coaching staff they do not need another veteran quarterback, at least for now. The Jets are thought to be targeting a long-term franchise quarterback at the top of the 2027 draft, so giving Klubnik (or another young passer) some regular-season reps should Smith miss time might be more worthwhile than a stopgap veteran.

The Jets also have Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe in their quarterback room. Cook, 24, started four games as an undrafted rookie in 2025 amid New York’s quarterback injuries. He completed just 57.5% of his passes for just 4.8 yards per attempt, two touchdowns and seven interceptions. Cook’s with the organization is a plus, but his incumbency is less of an advantage with a new offensive system.

Zappe, a Patriots fourth-round pick in 2022, won both of his starts as a rookie but averaged just 127.2 yards per game and 6.0 yards per attempt in 2023. He started one game for the Browns in 2024 – a Week 18 drubbing by the Ravens – and spent last year on Cleveland’s practice squad.

The Jets could still elect to add a free agent quarterback. The team has been in contact with multiple veterans, including Russell Wilson, and others could come free as teams adjusting their rosters in the coming months.