After the Justin Fields experiment came and went without delivering the long-term answer the Jets were hoping for, New York is back at square one in its ongoing quarterback search. But this time around, the front office isn’t short on ammo.
Armed with more than $90 million in projected cap space and four draft picks inside the top 45, the Jets have the flexibility to approach this offseason from every angle. General manager Darren Mougey made it clear: they’re going to “exhaust all options” in pursuit of their next quarterback. That means the draft, yes - but also the trade market and free agency.
Let’s take a closer look at five veteran quarterbacks the Jets could realistically target outside of the draft, and what each might bring to the table.
Free Agent Targets
Marcus Mariota - The Steady Bridge
Mariota may not be the long-term answer, but he’s still a capable short-term solution - and that might be exactly what the Jets need. At 32, he’s coming off a season where he started eight games for the Commanders, completing 61.2% of his passes for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Washington went just 2-6 in those games, but Mariota’s individual play was far from the problem.
He still brings mobility to the position, averaging 32 rushing yards per start in 2025, and his 7.5 yards per attempt ranked 11th among 45 qualified quarterbacks - a strong efficiency mark, especially for someone viewed as a backup.
Mariota profiles as a classic bridge quarterback: experienced, athletic, and capable of keeping an offense on schedule while a younger QB develops behind him. For a Jets team that may draft a quarterback but doesn’t want to rush him onto the field, Mariota makes a lot of sense.
Mitchell Trubisky - The Veteran Backup with Upside
Trubisky’s career has been anything but linear, but there’s still value in what he brings. Since entering the league as the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, he’s compiled a 31-26 record as a starter, throwing for over 13,000 yards and 78 touchdowns. While his days as a franchise centerpiece are behind him, he’s carved out a role as a dependable backup - and perhaps more.
He hasn’t started a game since 2023, when he struggled in two starts for Pittsburgh, but he’s been quietly solid in Buffalo the last two seasons. In limited action, Trubisky completed 72.4% of his passes for 492 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. That’s a small sample size, sure, but it shows he can still execute when called upon - and he’s averaging 7.8 net yards per attempt in that stretch.
He’s another bridge-type option who could mentor a rookie and compete for the job in training camp. He won’t win you many games on his own, but he won’t lose them either.
Malik Willis - The Wild Card
Now here’s where things get interesting.
Malik Willis entered the league with raw tools and sky-high upside, but his early NFL career in Tennessee was rocky - to put it mildly. In 11 appearances (three starts) with the Titans, he completed just 53% of his passes, didn’t throw a single touchdown, and took more sacks (14) than he had passing first downs (12). It looked like a flameout in real time.
But after a trade to Green Bay for a seventh-round pick, Willis found new life. Over the past two seasons with the Packers, he’s made 11 appearances (three starts) and looked like a completely different player.
He completed a staggering 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and no picks - while also rushing for 261 yards and three scores on 42 attempts. That’s 10.9 yards per attempt through the air and a major dual-threat presence on the ground.
At 26, Willis is still young, still athletic, and now - finally - productive. He’ll likely be looking for a starting job outright, not a backup gig.
That’s where the Jets need to tread carefully. After taking a similar swing on Fields and missing, do they want to go down that path again?
Trade Targets
Tanner McKee - The Budget-Friendly Upside Play
McKee has quietly been developing behind Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia, and now he looks ready for a shot. The former Stanford quarterback has appeared in six games (two starts), completing 61.4% of his passes for 597 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception. He’s averaging 6.8 yards per attempt - modest, but solid for a young QB in limited action.
What makes McKee appealing is his contract. He’s entering the final year of a sixth-round rookie deal, making him a low-cost option - a big factor for a Jets team that still owes Aaron Rodgers $35 million and could be on the hook for at least $22 million more if they cut Fields.
McKee wouldn’t cost much in terms of trade capital, either. A fourth-round pick - maybe even a fifth - could get it done.
He’s not a flashy name, but he’s a smart, efficient passer who could hold down the fort or compete with a rookie. That’s exactly the kind of flexibility the Jets need right now.
Mac Jones - The Most Proven Option
If the Jets want a veteran who’s shown he can win games and manage an offense, Mac Jones might be their guy.
After a rocky start to his career in New England, Jones signed a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the 49ers and has rebuilt his value as Brock Purdy’s backup. In eight starts this past season, Jones completed 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He led San Francisco to a 5-3 record in those games, engineered two game-winning drives, and posted a career-best 97.4 passer rating.
Yes, he benefitted from playing in Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly system. But Jones still had to execute, and he did. He looked poised, efficient, and in control - all traits the Jets could use.
Financially, he’s a bargain. He’d count just $3.5 million against the cap in 2026.
The trade cost would be higher than McKee - likely a third-round pick and a late-round sweetener - but you’re getting a more polished product. He’s not a long-term franchise QB, but he’s a rock-solid bridge who can keep the team competitive while a young signal-caller develops behind him.
The Bottom Line
The Jets are in a rare position this offseason: they’ve got the cap space, the draft capital, and the urgency to make a move. Whether that means drafting a quarterback high or taking another swing at a veteran remains to be seen, but what’s clear is that they’ll need someone who can guide the ship - at least for now.
From Mariota’s steady hand to Willis’ upside, from McKee’s affordability to Jones’ proven production, New York has options. The key will be choosing the right one - not just for 2026, but for what comes after.