The Jets are back in a familiar spot at training camp, but this time the conversation isn’t about who will start under center. Geno Smith is locked in as the Week 1 quarterback, something New York hasn’t had since the Rex Ryan era. The real wrinkle is the backup job, where the picture has become a lot messier than expected.
With less than a month to go before camp, the idea gaining steam is whether the Jets should swing a trade for a No. 2 quarterback. After already taking a look at Titans backup Will Levis, Mason Rudolph has entered the discussion as another possible target.
Outside of a brief flirtation with Russell Wilson, the assumption had been that Bailey Zappe would back up Smith. That no longer feels settled. Jets reporters have started suggesting that fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik could realistically push Zappe for the job, while Brady Cook is still on the 90-man roster but doesn’t appear to have a clear path into the competition.
Rudolph’s own situation is shifting, too. His spot in Pittsburgh has become less secure after the Steelers spent a third-round pick on Penn State’s Drew Allar. Rudolph brings eight years of experience and 19 career starts, but he also comes with some baggage for a Jets team that has to think carefully about value.
He is due $3 million in base salary, compared with Zappe’s one-year deal worth $1.21 million. Cost isn’t everything, but paying that kind of money for what amounts to a middling backup is a tough sell.
The bigger question is what the Jets want from the position if Smith ever has to miss time. A backup who can steady the ship for a week or two is one thing.
A player who can hold the line for several weeks is another. Rudolph fits the first description more than the second.
That’s why this feels like a different conversation than it would for a team on the edge of the playoff picture. Rudolph’s starting experience would matter a lot more if the Jets were truly built to chase a Wild Card spot. Instead, they’re a team that should be better, but one that would still need a lot to break right to get there.
So for now, the backup battle remains open, with Zappe and Klubnik still the names to watch. And in the Darren Mougey era, apparently, even the No. 2 quarterback spot comes with a twist.
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