A look at the top backup quarterback options for the Jets in free agency
At the NFL Honors in Las Vegas last month, Jets owner Woody Johnson put the team’s backup quarterback situation from last season on blast.
“We need a backup quarterback,” Johnson said after his team went 7-10 following Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles injury in Week 1. “We didn’t have one last year.”
Johnson is not wrong in his assessment. A year ago, the Jets were on the verge of acquiring Rodgers in a trade with the Packers. However, Jets general manager Joe Douglas and coach Robert Saleh continued to back Zach Wilson despite the fact that he was being demoted from starter to second-string.
Following a disappointing 2,271-yard, eight touchdown and seven interception season in which he was forced back into the starting role after Rodgers’ injury, the Jets are ready to move on from Wilson. Douglas told reporters at the end of last month the team gave Wilson permission to seek a trade.
Now, the Jets will look to improve their backup quarterback situation in a make-or-break season. Douglas and Saleh both received a mulligan following a disappointing season in large part because of Rodgers’ injury four plays into his debut last September. That likely will not be the case again in 2024 if the Jets do not make the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
The backup quarterback market is robust, with many teams in need this offseason. The Jets have an estimated $27 million of salary cap space. They can create more money by restructuring some of their current players’ deals.
“That’s part of the discussions that we had,” Douglas said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week about acquiring a backup QB. “It’s an area that we’re going to be addressing moving forward.
“We’re still really early in the offseason, especially when it comes to the veteran backup landscape and market. We’ve had good meetings and evaluation with the guys that are available I think we’re ready to take the next step and see where the market is exactly with these backup quarterbacks.”
With Rodgers, 40, returning from a significant injury, the Jets know they need a break-in-case-of-emergency veteran backup who can fill in.
Let’s take a look at a few backup quarterback options:
RYAN TANNEHILL
Tannehill is the likely favorite to become Gang Green’s backup quarterback in 2024. His former offensive coordinator with the Titans, Todd Downing, is the Jets passing game coordinator. Jets offensive line coach Keith Carter also knows Tannehill during their days in Tennessee (2019-22).
Tannehill has 151 career starts for the Dolphins and Titans. He was a Pro Bowl quarterback in 2019 and helped lead the Titans to the playoffs from 2019-21.
But Tannehill lost his starting job after rookie Will Levis replaced him following a high ankle sprain. He eventually became the starter again after Levis injured his foot late in the season.
Tannehill, 35, could have starting options elsewhere. But if those plans don’t come to fruition, he could land with the Jets.
JACOBY BRISSETT
The Jets saw firsthand what impact Brissett can make when relieving a starting quarterback. After coming in for Sam Howell during their Christmas Eve game against the Jets, Brissett rallied the Commanders from a 21-point deficit. Washington lost, 30-28, after Greg Zuerlein’s game-winning 54-yard field goal with 10 seconds left.
Brissett, 31, has been a career journeyman since he was drafted in the third round by the Patriots in 2016. He is 18-30 as a starter but has been a steady backup for New England, Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland, and Washington.
Like Tannehill, Brissett might look for a starting opportunity because he could be a bridge while a team looks to develop a younger quarterback option. The Jets would need to pony up the money for Brissett after he made $8 million during his one season with the Commanders.
GARDNER MINSHEW
After filling in for the injured Anthony Richardson, Minshew came close to getting the Colts to the playoffs in 2023. He was 7-6 as a starter after passing for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The Jets are fans of Minshew and he could be on top of their backup wishlist. Minshew only made $3.5 million last year, but expect him to double that in free agency.
Like Tannehill and Brissett, Minshew will likely look for a potential starting role.
JIMMY GAROPPOLO
Garoppolo isn’t a free agent, but he is expected to be released around the start of the new league year, which begins March 14. He is facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy.
If Garoppolo is on the Raiders’ roster on the fifth day of the new league year (March 18), he would be owed a $11.25 million roster bonus.
Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract with the Raiders, including a guaranteed $33.75 million. But he was benched for rookie Aidan O’Connell hours after the Raiders fired coach Josh McDaniels.
Garoppolo, 32, is 43-20 as a starting quarterback. But lack of durability and diminishing skills are a concern. Garoppolo has a history with Saleh after the two spent time with the 49ers.
TYLER HUNTLEY
Huntley certainly doesn’t have the same experience other quarterbacks on this list do. But he has performed well in the games he has started the last two years.
Huntley, 26, is 3-6 as a starter, which includes a 2-2 record after filling in for Lamar Jackson for the Ravens in 2022. He also helped Baltimore reach the playoffs that year before losing to the Bengals in the AFC wild card round.
Huntley is a dual-threat quarterback, which is a plus considering the questions on the Jets’ offensive line. He has run for 509 yards and three touchdowns in four seasons.
Since entering the league in 2020, Huntley has passed for 1,957 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Huntley is an intriguing option, especially given Rodgers’ age.
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