The New York Jets have several important decisions facing them as they enter the 2026 offseason.
Chief among them is the quarterback position.
After the disastrous Justin Fields experiment in 2025, head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey need to devise a better plan for their starting quarterback next season; otherwise, they may be looking for new jobs this time next year.
ESPN’s Jets insider, Rich Cimini, revealed New York’s likeliest pathway to solving their quarterback problem, and the most attractive options available for the Jets, considering they’re unlikely to land one with the No. 2 overall pick.
Rich Cimini Says Jets May Get a Veteran QB or Two
In an article from ESPN naming the biggest question facing teams picking in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft, Cimini, of course, brought up the New York Jets quarterback situation.
“They won’t draft a quarterback here unless the Raiders somehow pass on Mendoza. Chances are, the Jets will have an all-encompassing plan: acquire a veteran or two (perhaps Malik Willis or Kirk Cousins), release Justin Fields and draft a quarterback with the No. 16 or No. 33 pick,” wrote Cimini.
“The later draft pick could be Alabama’s Ty Simpson or Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss. This would cover their short- and long-term interests. And if the Jets can’t secure a quarterback of the future, they can look toward 2027 and start a ‘March for Arch’ campaign.”
Both Malik Willis and Kirk Cousins are names that have come up for the Jets throughout the early parts of the offseason, but each have their own pros and cons.
Willis is a free agent and wouldn’t cost New York anything to bring in, but a decent-sized contract.
The problem is, it feels like the Jets just took a similar gamble on Fields. A young but athletically gifted quarterback who hasn’t proved he can be a consistent starter in the NFL.
Cousins, on the other hand, is a safe bet. He would bring a consistent level of play that isn’t going to blow anyone away, but would stabilize the quarterback position.
The only holdup is that the Jets would have to trade for his services, and considering Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will be spending most of the year recovering from his torn ACL, the Falcons may need Cousins as their starting quarterback for 2026.
So… ‘March for Arch’ It Is?
The New York Jets will acquire a new veteran quarterback this offseason. Glenn and Mougey are fighting for their jobs and need a competitive 2026 season to prove they deserve to continue leading the team.
But will they be able to do that with a quarterback room consisting of a mid-tier veteran and a rookie selected with the 16th or 33rd overall picks?
Who knows. The Jets weren’t expecting to get one of the best passing seasons in franchise history from Ryan Fitzpatrick when he was thrust into the starting role in 2015.
But the good news is, if New York stinks again in 2026, the quarterback class is much more appealing in 2027, thanks to Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
There’s already been some speculation that Manning would spurn the Jets and pull a move similar to what his uncle, Eli Manning, did to the San Diego Chargers in 2004.
Regardless, the next two years should be an optimistic time for Jets fans as they continue to build out the roster, preparing for an eventual hopeful franchise quarterback.
Whether Glenn and Mougey remain in charge beyond 2026 is the real question.
If New York needs a new braintrust in 2027, they’ll have three first-round picks and a heck of a lot of cap space to attract a new coach and general manager.
Jets Insider Reveals ‘Most Likely’ Quarterback Plan for 2026