To all the Jets fans out there, I know you were expecting big things this season and for all of that to end just 4 plays into the season is heartbreaking. No one knows perpetual sadness like Jets fans, well maybe Lions fans, but I digress. We all know Zach Wilson is not the answer for this team that is in "win now mode", and Aaron Rodgers left the door open for the Jets to compete without him this season. With the renegotiated terms of his contract he is only owed $5 million for this year and next year combined leaving enough cap room for the Jets to go out and sign or trade for a "rental QB". Here are five guys I have that could help the Jets still compete in their window:
Honorable Mention: Jameis Winston, currently with the Saints. before Sundays game I would have Jameis very high on the list as a trade target for New York, but with Derek Carr going down with a shoulder injury (AC joint sprain) I can't see the Saints making this deal.
Number 5: Cam Newton, currently a free agent. It is a long shot, I know, but I believe he still has some gas left in the tank to lead this Jets team to playoffs. Remember any guy they get is only a rental and just needs to be better than Zach Wilson. Cam showed how much life he brings to a team just by being in the locker room when the Panthers signed him late in 2021, sure he didn't win games in Carolina that season, but who did? Plus they wouldn't have to give up any draft capital to sign him unlike the other guys on this list.
Number 4: Ryan Tannehill, currently with the Titans. Tennessee's season isn't really amounting to much so far, and they have Will Levis or Malik Willis just waiting behind Tannehill. Tannehill is the perfect plug and play guy considering how simple the offenses he has ran have been. He knows the AFC East well from his time with the Dolphins and honestly just needs a fresh start like he did in 2019. I'm not sure how much it would cost to trade for Tannehill but it couldn't be more than a 4th rounder at this point in his career.
Number 3: Andy Dalton, currently with the Panthers. Dalton showed us he can still play this past weekend filling in for rookie Bryce Young against the Seahawks, putting up 361 yards and 2 TDs in a ten point loss. Similar to the Saints situation, I can't see the Panthers sending their veteran backup to the Jets after their QB1 went down but I've seen crazier things happen.
Number 2: Justin Fields, currently with Da' Bears. Before you skip this one for being crazy hear me out. The Bears are awful but they own their pick and Carolina's first round pick (likely top 7) in this year's draft. With top tier QB talent coming out of college this season, it might be time to move onto another guy for Chicago. Arizona did it by picking QBs in back to back years after realizing their mistake, so why couldn't Chicago do the same? Fields has been terrible this year in Chicago and a change of scenery would be nice to everyone involved here. The Jets should send Wilson and a mid-to-late pick for Fields and help the Bears clear up the QB room for the draft.
Number 1: Kirk Cousins, currently with the Vikings. The Vikings have started 0-3 and Kirk isn't signed past this season. Sure they can franchise tag him in the offseason but he is likely to leave this summer in free agency to get his final large contract in the NFL. The Jets have one of the top defenses in the league and have a truly great group of offensive skill guys that would be bolstered by the presence of Cousins. Him being in the final year of his contract also means when the season is up and Rodgers is healthy next year they can just move on, no harm no foul.
All-in-all the Jets must do something at QB or they will waste their window of opportunity with their young core.
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