The New York Jets are staring down the barrel of another pivotal offseason, and after more than a decade of frustration, the pressure's mounting. Not since the 2010 season have they sniffed the playoffs, and the quarterback carousel in that time has spun faster than any fan would like to remember.
This past season didn’t bring the turnaround the franchise had hoped for. The Jets made a bold move by signing Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal, betting on his upside to finally stabilize the position.
But that gamble didn’t pay off. Fields was benched midway through the year, and the team turned to veterans Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook to finish out the campaign.
The results? Inconsistent, at best.
Now, with head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey entering a critical offseason, the Jets are back at square one: searching-yet again-for a quarterback who can lead them out of the wilderness.
One name being floated in league circles is Mac Jones, the former first-round pick currently with the San Francisco 49ers. According to reports, the Jets could be in the mix for Jones, and it might only take a third-round pick to get a deal done.
Let’s unpack that.
Jones, still just 27 years old, carries a modest cap hit of just over $3 million for the 2026 season. That’s a manageable number for a team like the Jets, who are looking for a low-risk, potentially high-reward option under center. And while his time in New England didn’t pan out the way many expected, Jones showed flashes of his potential last season in San Francisco.
When Brock Purdy went down, Jones stepped in and delivered. In eight starts, he tossed 13 touchdowns against just six interceptions, guiding the 49ers to a 5-3 record during that stretch.
He wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard, but he was efficient, composed, and, most importantly, winning games. For a Jets team that’s been starved for stability and competence at the quarterback position, that kind of production is more than welcome.
There’s also the draft angle to consider. With Dante Moore opting to return to Oregon and the 2026 quarterback class looking thin overall, the Jets may not find their answer in the early rounds of April’s draft.
That makes the idea of adding a veteran like Jones all the more appealing. He’s young enough to still have upside, experienced enough to handle the pressure of New York, and affordable enough to not handcuff the team’s cap flexibility.
Of course, this isn’t a slam-dunk solution. Jones would still need to prove he can thrive in a new system, behind an offensive line that has had its share of issues, and under the microscope of a demanding fan base. But compared to the revolving door of quarterbacks the Jets have trotted out over the past 15 years, Jones represents something they haven’t had in a long time: a realistic shot at stability.
The Jets don’t need a superstar to turn things around-they need competence, consistency, and someone who can make the throws when it matters. If Mac Jones can be that guy, and the price is a third-round pick, it’s a move worth serious consideration.
Because at this point, the Jets aren’t just trying to find a quarterback. They’re trying to find hope.