Potential QB Trade Targets

Edition #1052: The Jets need a new number two, but with Wentz signing in Philadelphia, the Jets may turn to the trade market to find their backup.

Good morning ☕

One quick look at the Jets depth chart and you’ll see the glaring need that is yet to be addressed. We have an aging Geno Smith coming off a down year, Brady Cook who looked lost at this level last season and Bailey Zappe on his 6th stop having only been drafted in 2022. Questions at the most important position.

We’ve spoken a lot about Geno and I’ll reiterate that I’m comfortable with him as the starter for 2026. But considering he’s entering his age 36 season having thrown 32 interceptions over the last two years, having a capable backup would be preferable.

Andy Dalton was an obvious trade candidate, but the Red Rifle will be backing up Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. Carson Wentz was another popular name, but he signed on to mentor J.J. McCarthy and provide a reliable backup to presumed starter Kyler Murray. So where do the Jets turn?

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NEWS & NOTES

• CBS Sports have a new mock draft out, let’s take a look for the Jets. I have to say that if I’m picking for the Jets, right now, this is what I’m doing too:

  • #2 Arvell Reese - “I’ve gone back and forth on how the Jets may perceive this selection. Would Aaron Glenn want a player viewed more as a finished product (David Bailey) or one with more upside (Arvell Reese)? Some of the signings in free agency take the pressure off Reese contributing immediately, which makes the upside play easier to justify.”

  • #16 - Jordyn Tyson “New York may not be frothing at the mouth about adding another wide receiver who’s been hampered by injuries, but Garrett Wilson needs help. If Jordyn Tyson can stay healthy, he has the potential to be the best wide receiver in this draft.”

• NFL.com also had a new mock draft out yesterday, I spot a trend…

  • #2 Arvell Reese - “I think the Jets will take Reese here and use him primarily as an edge rusher early on. They've added depth and experience on defense in free agency, which should give Reese a lengthy runway for liftoff. He's still a bit green, with just 16 collegiate starts under his belt, but the sky's the limit.”

  • #16 Jordyn Tyson - “Tyson missed two or more games in each of his four college seasons, which makes him a risky pick, but he’s a quality intermediate target for an offense that could use plenty more juice. I could also see Omar Cooper Jr. here.”

• Not to be completely outdone - The Athletic released their beat reporter mock which means Zack Rosenblatt was picking for the Jets:

  • #2 Arvell Reese: “The Jets’ goal in free agency was to raise their floor by bringing in capable, veteran players — and they accomplished that. They filled a lot of needs, and their roster is undoubtedly better. The goal for the NFL Draft, especially for the first round, should be to raise their ceiling — to find prospects with star potential. Reese feels like a no-brainer. He’s arguably the highest-ceiling prospect of any in this entire class. Maybe it’s partially a projection because he didn’t have many sacks in college — but if there’s a chance Reese becomes the next Micah Parsons, the Jets obviously will take that. They need blue-chip players on defense in the worst way.”

  • #16 Jordyn Tyson: “The only position the Jets didn’t address in free agency was a glaring weakness heading into the offseason and remains so now — and, just their luck, one of the draft’s best prospects at that position made it here. Tyson has some durability concerns, but his talent is undeniable, and he’d slot in perfectly opposite Garrett Wilson. His presence would also give Adonai Mitchell, who showed promise after coming over in the Sauce Gardner trade, more room to develop as the No. 3 receiver. A room with Wilson, Tyson and Mitchell is a lot more promising than how the group looked at the start of last season”

• PFF had their post free-agency power rankings out and they believe the New York Jets are the worst team in the league:

  • “Franchise-tagging Breece Hall, reuniting with Geno Smith and trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick underscore some of the Jets’ biggest moves in an active offseason. While those additions are promising, the Jets’ roster overhaul still has a long way to go. The team finished in the bottom five in EPA per play metrics on both sides of the ball this past season. The roster likely won’t shape until after the draft, where the Jets can inject young, cornerstone talent into their offense and defense.”

• Stone Smartt signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday. Smartt only spent one year with the Jets and had limited impact on offence catching 7 passes for 52 yards. He did however have 138 special team snaps registering 3 tackles. He was a solid special teamer, but at the same time it shouldn’t be difficult to replace his special team contributions.

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Finding the Backup

Here are the five options that are spinning around my mind right now as we talk about adding another QB to the mix.

J.J. McCarthy

The Vikings have been a little bit of a mess when it comes to the QB position recently. They signed and started Sam Darnold who turned into an All-Pro talent, they then balked at re-signing him because of the potential of J.J. McCarthy. That lasted all of 12 months with the 23-year-old failing to complete 58% of his passes and throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11), despite having one of the elite talents in football (Justin Jefferson).

The Vikings not only signed Kyler Murray to be their starter, but in bringing in Carson Wentz they have their backup QB capable of holding the thought if/when Murray goes down with an injury. So where does that leave McCarthy? It’s not a comfortable position for a former first round pick. If Murray has a renaissance season then you can guarantee that the Vikings won’t make the same mistake as they did with Sam Darnold.

But…he was drafted 10th overall for a reason and he’s shown flashes of the talent that convinced the Vikings to part with a first round pick. Right now the Vikings would be selling with McCarthy’s value rock-bottom. If they got anything higher than a 4th I’d be amazed, but is it worth the call? I’d certainly explore what it would take to gamble on his upside, especially with him still on a rookie deal. He has the size of a Reich QB and he’d be a more interesting project than Fields.

Will Levis