Aaron Rodgers is no longer in the Jets’ plans, and the timing of his release will likely come at the start of the new league year. By the time the first wave of free agency is underway, more clarity will no doubt be in place regarding the team’s intentions under center. 
As expected, the team’s new decision-makers (GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn) informed Rodgers they will move in a different direction for 2025. That leaves the door open to another veteran being signed to compete for the starting gig. A draft investment is of course still on the table, with a trade up to the No. 1 slot being something to watch. More realistically, though, a modest signing on the free agent market looks to be in the team’s plans.
Both SNY’s Connor Hughes and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic (subscription required) write New York can be expected to pursue a middle-class option amongst the veteran quarterbacks set to be available in 2025. Former Jet Sam Darnold is the top name to watch at the position, but in terms of short-term investment options a number of other passers will be available. Pairing one of those with incumbent Tyrod Taylor would provide the Jets with a relatively stable floor in terms of QB play for next season.
Hughes and Rosenblatt both name Justin Fields and Carson Wentz as names to watch as it pertains to the Jets. The Steelers started Fields for the first six games of the 2024 campaign before benching him in favor of Russell Wilson. In spite of that decision, Pittsburgh is believed to prefer keeping the younger of the two signal-callers moving forward. If a reversal of that stance is to take place, the Jets will be one of the teams prepared to make Fields a strong offer on the open market.
Wentz’s last run as a starter came in 2022 with the Commanders. Since then, he has taken one-year backup deals with the Rams and Chiefs, making just five combined appearances in that span. The 32-year-old may welcome the chance to earn the staring gig on a pact with the Jets, but other destinations in a similar position will likely be available to him as well.
Hughes lists Marcus Mariota (who has been with four different teams in the past four years) as another potential target, while Rosenblatt adds that Kirk Cousins – should he be released by the Falcons – as a name to monitor. The latter could remain in place as Atlanta’s backup for 2025, something which would eliminate a notable option on the QB market. Taylor, meanwhile, has one year remaining on his pact and could boost his 2026 stock if he were to get the nod next season.
Adding a rookie at some point in April’s draft is something which is firmly receiving consideration by the Jets, per both reports. A move up to add Cam Ward would be quite pricey, but using Day 2 or 3 to add a developmental passer (not dissimilar to 2024 fifth-rounder Jordan Travis) would give the team another option for the future. With respect to the 2025 campaign, however, a major splash in free agency would come as a surprise at this point.
Just start Adrian Martinez for a year
Only a modest addition at QB while they start building a new program? Sure, fine, makes total sense. Carson Wentz? Please no.
Over Justin Fields? Wentz is the easy call. Wentz had some really bad OLs in WASH and bad ankles in INDY.
Anything over Fields is the correct call.
I’m not even a Fields believer, but I would take him easily over Wentz. Fields has dealt with bad lines, bad weapons, and in Chicago, bad coaching situations. But at least he can run the ball and win over teammates. Wentz left three organizations excited to get rid of him. You can make excuses about his situations, but if you actually watched him play, he was a disaster. He was only ever particularly good when he had a team around him so great that it won a super bowl with Nick Foles. There’s a reason Wentz was down to the Chad Henne/Blaine Gabbert gig this past year. I wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole.
This has Gardner Minshew written all over it.
Let’s not jump to any conclusions until the Madden ratings are released.
God those are some horrendous options. Wonder what Tim Boyle is up to these days…
Whomever they hire better be experienced at – and good at – running for his life. That leaves Mariota and Fields still standing. For now.
If they take the job, they’ll be lying face first in the turf at MetLife Stadium eight games/season.
Adrian Martinez is low key kaepernick without the drama
Mariota can quit on a 2d team.
I like the article headline and if Adam is sarcastically implying that Rodgers wasn’t renowned for his “modesty”…I heartily approve 🙂
Wentz to Jets: yes please.
It just doesn’t seem like a successful NFL team can be built when you start with a modestly priced QB…
I think they see this as a building year, not a contending year. There will likely be better quarterback options next year.
Tank for Arch. But would Glenn survive if it’s 2 bad years?
According to people on this site, 12 different teams should tank for Arch, so I don’t think they’ll all be able to do it. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets take a shot on the second tier of QBs in this draft (Dart, Gabriel, Ewers, etc.) and maybe take a bigger shot next year.
I think they should roll with Tyrod and a rookie. Bring in another RB and ho Run heavy on offense -fits the game manager skills of Taylor and protects a young QB.
Darnold has been the correct answer since they drafted him, they just never set him up for success. He’d be my selection, but I doubt he’d want to come back to this mess.
Darnold is not good, he gets fraud checked pretty hard against good defenses. MIN had a pretty soft schedule outside of their own division and KoC has made just about every QB look good for a stretch of time. There was about 3 weeks where Josh Dobbs was setting the league on fire. The wheels fell off eventually but getting success out of him at all is impressive in itself. Not to mention having JJ really eases things.
Theres a reason why its up in the air what MIN is going to do after their QB put up 4300yds and 35 TDs.