The New York Jets are facing a quarterback conundrum that needs addressing this offseason. With Justin Fields not meeting expectations and the draft lacking a standout rookie QB, the Jets' decision-makers, Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn, are eyeing the trade market and free agency for solutions.
NFL Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah has a suggestion that might just be the answer. Instead of banking on the draft, Jeremiah proposes the Jets explore trades for backup quarterbacks Tanner McKee from the Philadelphia Eagles and Davis Mills from the Houston Texans.
Both McKee and Mills are currently serving as backups to entrenched starters. Jalen Hurts, fresh off a Super Bowl MVP performance, is secure in his role with the Eagles.
Meanwhile, despite a challenging postseason, C.J. Stroud remains the starter for the Texans.
Tanner McKee, a relative unknown, brings intrigue to the table. A Super Bowl champion, the 26-year-old was a sixth-round pick in 2023 and has shown flashes of potential. His career stats include a 1-1 record, a 61.4% completion rate, 597 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception over two seasons.
Davis Mills, on the other hand, offers more experience. At 27, the former third-round pick has 29 starts under his belt, boasting a 61.8% completion rate, 7,082 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions. While his 2022 season had its struggles, with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, Mills bounced back this past season, going 3-0 with a 57.2% completion rate, 915 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.
Both quarterbacks present affordable trade options for the Jets, potentially costing a mid-round pick. They've demonstrated enough capability to be considered viable starters in the NFL. Jeremiah's advice for the Jets is clear: rather than investing in a high draft pick for a quarterback, they should "kick the tires" on McKee and Mills as they look to solidify their QB position for the 2026 season.