The New York Jets want to run it back with veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor in 2026.
NFL Insider Tony Pauline shared the exclusive update in a column for Essentially Sports.
“I’m told the Jets have let it be known they’d like to bring Taylor back in 2026 in a similar role to the one he manned last season. Taylor started four games in the middle of the season, playing reasonably well before being sidelined with injury in December. He orchestrated one of the Jets’ three victories, beating the Atlanta Falcons, and he kept his team in the game earlier in the year against Tampa Bay, a game the Jets lost on the final drive,” Pauline explained.
“Taylor has been a dependable backup in the league for most of his 15-year career, except for a three-year starting stint with the Buffalo Bills beginning in 2015. He finished with a record of 22-20 over that span,” Pauline added.
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“Despite their hopes to keep Taylor, those close to the situation believe it will be tough to re-sign him, as there will be a market for the quarterback and the Jets will have to overpay to keep him,” Pauline wrote.
Taylor, 36, will turn 37 by the start of the 2026 season. The veteran backup has a Super Bowl ring on his finger from his early days with the Baltimore Ravens.
The former Virginia Tech product originally joined the Jets on a two-year, $12 million deal with $8.5 million in total guarantees in 2024.
That $6 million annual salary ranks 34th among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, per Over The Cap.
According to Spotrac’s calculated market value, Taylor is expected to make less money on his next contract. He is expected to command a one-year deal for $4 million. That annual salary would rank 43rd among the highest-paid QBs in the league, per Over The Cap.
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Once you say the phrase, “with all due respect”, you’re then allowed to say whatever you want, and no one can take offense to it. Those are the rules.
So with all due respect, if the Jets have to “overpay” to keep Taylor, they should move on.
Taylor had as many interceptions (five) as he did touchdown passes (five) in his six games with the Jets in 2025. He signed with the Jets, having a reputation for being unable to stay healthy.
That was very much the case during his tenure with the green and white. Taylor had arthroscopic knee surgery at the beginning of training camp. Then, throughout the season, he battled a variety of ailments that held him out.
Even when he was on the field for the Jets, he wasn’t that effective. Taylor finished with a 59.7% completion percentage in 2026, which was the worst mark of his career since 2020.
If the Jets are looking for a steady backup quarterback who can provide the Taylor experience, there are plenty of fish out in the free agency sea.
Taylor is old, broken down, and shouldn’t be a priority for this team. If he is brought back as a QB3 duking it out for the backup job, fine, but the team shouldn’t overpay to keep him.
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