As free agency and the draft inch closer, the Jets are in a quarterback quagmire.
Gang Green will select No. 2 in April’s draft.
But after Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to be drafted first overall by the Raiders, there isn’t another quarterback worth drafting in the top 10.
During a conference call on Thursday, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said not only does he not think the Jets should select a quarterback in the first round at No. 2, but he wouldn’t draft one with any of their following three selections (No. 16, 33, and 44).
Jeremiah thinks the Jets should solely focus on the trade market with guys like Eagles backup Tanner McKee or Texans’ backup Davis Mills to address their enormous need at quarterback.
“Those are a couple of guys I’d be curious about taking a flyer on for a year if you can trade a mid-round pick,” Jeremiah said. “I don’t think I would lean in the direction of the draft for their quarterback this year. I think they will be all in for that next year.”
After signing him to a two-year, $40 million contract last March, the Jets are expected to start fresh and release Justin Fields before the start of the new league year. He was benched after a 2-7 record after nine starts. Last season, Fields ranked 34th in QBR (38.7) after passing for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.
Following a 3-14 season, the Jets could potentially look in several directions for a veteran quarterback. Free agency offers some options, such as Kirk Cousins and Malik Willis. But the market is considered a weak market for high-upside long-term quarterbacks. That is why the Jets could potentially trade for a quarterback instead.
McKee, 25, has played in just six career games (two starts) for the Eagles, backing up Jalen Hurts for the past two seasons. He has completed 61.4% passes with five touchdowns and one interception during that span.
McKee doesn’t have much mobility, but he is known for his accuracy, which could be an asset to the Jets’ passing attack under new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. He will enter 2026 on the final year of his rookie contract, which could be why the Eagles could deal McKee.
Mills, 27, has spent all five NFL seasons in Houston and has started 29 games during that stretch. He is under contract with the Texans for $6 million after signing a one-year extension last September.
Mills was the Texans’ starting quarterback for two seasons after he was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He passed for 5,782 yards, 33 touchdowns and 25 interceptions during that time.
After the Texans drafted C.J. Stroud in 2023, Mills became the team’s backup. He did three games last season after Stroud suffered a concussion. Houston went 3-0 in Mills’ three starts, which jump-started a nine-game winning streak to end the regular season.
Mills hasn’t put up flashy numbers, but he has been a smart game manager, something the Jets could certainly use. But the Texans don’t have much incentive to trade Mills after Stroud’s inconsistent play during the playoffs (passing for 462 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions over two games).
It is difficult to know what it would take in terms of draft capital to acquire McKee or Mills.
“If [the Jets] could trade a mid-round pick, I don’t think I would lean in the direction of the draft for their quarterback this year,” Jeremiah said.
Jeremiah believes the Jets’ best route is to address the offensive and defensive line in the draft and go for a quarterback in 2027 with their three first-round picks. The ’27 quarterback draft class could include Arch Manning (Texas), Dante Moore (Oregon), Julian Sayin (Ohio State) and LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina).
“If you go into next year with a bunch of picks and your offensive and defensive lines are in good shape, and you can find your quarterback of the future at that point in time,” Jeremiah said. “Who knows, maybe you hit the lottery on one of those younger veterans you could try to get.”
In his second mock draft of the offseason, Jeremiah has the Jets selecting Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the second overall pick over Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese and Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. Gang Green finished last season with the second-fewest sacks in the league. So Bailey being linked to the Jets makes a lot of sense.
After transferring from Stanford to Texas Tech, Bailey, at 6-3, 250 pounds, showed he can be an every-down player for the Red Raiders. In 14 games, he registered 52 tackles, 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.
“David Bailey provides a bit more certainty,” Jeremiah said. “You’ve seen him play out there, you’ve seen the production. I think it’s pretty easy to see how that translates, and there are teams that’re going to have him as the top guy.”
