Jan. 15, 2026, 7:45 a.m. ET
The New York Jets will enter the offseason searching for a new starting quarterback. Tyrod Taylor is a pending free agent (and veteran backup), and the expectation is that Justin Fields will be released from his contract. Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn will be tasked with acquiring at least one quarterback.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore announced he is returning to school for the 2026 season. If the Jets draft another quarteback later in the first or second round, their inexperience suggests they should pair him with a veteran signal caller. We’ve identified three potential options.
Malik Willis, Packers
Malik Willis is the most intriguing free agent quarterback and he’ll almost certainly leave Green Bay for an opportunity to compete to start. Willis completed nearly 86% of his passing attempts in four games this season, with 422 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He’s a high-upside option.
Tua Tagovailoa/Kyler Murray, Dolphins/Cardinals
Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray are two veteran starters who may get traded this offseason. Both of them got benched during the 2025 season, abruptly ending their respective tenures. Tagovailoa has a much more difficult contract to navigate, so Murray may be the easy choice here.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Mitch Trubisky, Bills
Mitch Trubisky is among the lower-level veteran options, but the Jets just watched him torch their defense. Trubisky threw for 259 yards and four touchdowns in a blowout Week 18 victory over the Jets. Pairing him with a draft pick wouldn’t be a terrible idea.