The team most closely connected to a big-ticket quarterback addition, the Jets have maintained Zach Wilson still has a place on the roster. New York’s offseason blueprint may also involve bringing back the QB who replaced Wilson.
Mike White is in the Jets’ plans; they are keeping close tabs on him. Robert Saleh said the veteran passer “should be” back on the roster, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. White is a free agent, and he joins a host of bridge- or backup-type quarterbacks available this year. That should make the popular Jet affordable, but he will soon be free to negotiate with other teams.
For a quarterback who began the past two seasons as a backup, White went through two of the more eventful years for a recent reserve. He became the first Jets QB to surpass 400 passing yards in a game since Vinny Testaverde in his debut — an upset win over the Bengals in 2021 — but threw four interceptions against the Bills before returning to the bench. White was not the team’s preferred option to replace Wilson to start last season, sitting behind Joe Flacco, but once again did so after leapfrogging the aging vet on the depth chart in-season. White injected life into a woeful New York passing attack upon supplanting Wilson, but injuries once again intervened. White, 27, finished the season with five broken ribs.
There does not figure to be too much money available for White on the Jets’ end. They appear committed to making a massive upgrade at the position, and acquiring Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr would take up much of the team’s budget. Wilson also remains tied to his No. 2 draft-slot contract, being set to count nearly $10MM toward the Jets’ 2023 cap. Wilson returning and either Rodgers or Carr being the biggest name on next year’s Jets roster would seemingly point White out of town, but the team is keeping the door open.
White, whose QBR dropped considerably from his 2021 cameo, joins numerous QBs that profile as capable backups or spot starters on the market. Ex-Jet Sam Darnold may head up that list, joining Baker Mayfield, Marcus Mariota, Carson Wentz, Jacoby Brissett, Teddy Bridgewater and Andy Dalton here. Jameis Winston may be available soon as well. Case Keenum, Mason Rudolph, Drew Lock, Chase Daniel and Cooper Rush are also set to be UFAs. This collection may well cannibalize each other on the market, even as several teams chase quarterback additions.
NO… Please move on from the scrub!
I don’t see what’s wrong with keeping him as a backup.
Wilson is the 10m backup
It wouldn’t surprise me if they dump Wilson once they acquire their next starter. He didn’t even look capable of being a backup last year.
The cap hit would be larger if the Jets cut Zach Wilson. The Jets can always pick up a QB in the free agent pool. Daniel Jones, for instance.
Trading him post-June 1st would be a much less significant cap hit, and there’s always someone willing to take a flyer on a highly drafted QB.
Ladies and gentlemen, the veteran quarterback the 2023 New York Jets will be signing
The White Lotus is an amazing show. Surprised he still finds time to football.
If they can’t afford to bring him back as a backup, they should at least re-sign their best preseason quarterback of all time – Chris Streveler the Defense Leveler!
Well, it looks like they already took care of that by signing him to a reserve/futures contract. 🙂