The New York Jets have a full plate this offseason-and quarterback is right at the center of it. With a defense that needs serious reinforcement and a coaching staff led by Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey looking to reset the culture, the quarterback situation looms as the most urgent piece of the puzzle.
Justin Fields is still on the books for another $20 million, but after a rocky 2025 campaign, it’s clear the Jets can’t bank on him being the guy under center next season. They’ve already missed out on Fernando Mendoza, one of the more intriguing young names in the draft, and there aren’t many can't-miss prospects left on the board. That leaves the trade market-and that’s where things are getting complicated.
According to a report from Dianna Russini, two of the Jets’ top quarterback trade targets-Mac Jones and Kirk Cousins-are looking increasingly out of reach.
Let’s start with Mac Jones. The 49ers quarterback quietly put together a solid 2025 season as a backup-turned-starter in Kyle Shanahan’s system, going 5-3 and showing the kind of poise and efficiency that made him a first-round pick back in 2021. On paper, he looked like an ideal fit for a team like the Jets: experienced, affordable (he’s on a two-year, $8.41 million deal), and capable of managing a game while the rest of the roster finds its footing.
But that door may be closing. Russini reports that San Francisco isn’t looking to move Jones this offseason.
That’s a big blow for New York. Given his contract, Jones would’ve cost just a fraction of what Fields is making, and with his recent play, he could’ve offered a steady hand in an otherwise volatile QB room.
The Jets would’ve had to part with draft capital to get him, but now it looks like that option is off the table entirely.
Then there’s Kirk Cousins, who seemed like another potential solution-especially with his future in Atlanta looking cloudy after the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. last year. But Cousins, despite his hefty $180 million contract, might not be going anywhere either.
Why? Two reasons.
First, the Falcons need a reliable veteran presence while Penix recovers from his third ACL surgery. Second, the arrival of new head coach Kevin Stefanski adds another layer of intrigue.
Stefanski and Cousins have history from their time together in Minnesota, and that familiarity could make Cousins the bridge QB Atlanta leans on while Penix gets healthy and up to speed.
So where does that leave the Jets?
In a tough spot, honestly. With the draft pool thinning and trade options drying up, the quarterback market is tightening before free agency even kicks off. Glenn and Mougey have their work cut out for them, and unless a new name emerges on the trade block, they’ll be forced to get creative-whether that means rolling the dice on a lesser-known veteran, doubling down on Fields with a restructured plan, or taking a swing on a developmental QB.
One thing’s clear: the Jets can’t afford to get the quarterback decision wrong again. Not with a defense in rebuild mode, a fanbase desperate for stability, and a front office trying to turn the page. The search continues-but the options are getting thinner by the day.