The New York Jets season has imploded in four plays as four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles while getting sacked on the Jets’ season-opening drive. The Jets built everything about the 2023 season into acquiring Rodgers, who gave them a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl.
Winning its first Super Bowl title since 1969 now seems like a pipe dream. All the hype and luster this past training camp and preseason went up in smokes in a blink for the Jets to return to the struggles of former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson.
The Jets found a way to beat the Buffalo Bills on Monday night in overtime after losing Rodgers. But they won’t have an opposing quarterback throw three interceptions and a fumble every week. Wilson must play better. Or, the Jets may need to turn to the open market to find a quarterback.
Yes, Jets head coach Robert Saleh insists Wilson is their quarterback. But they’ll need a voice to be in his ear or someone that is ready to steer the ship before it sinks.
Sure, seven-time Super Bowl-winning QB Tom Brady is at the top of everyone’s wish list, like ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe. However, the Jets most likely will be forced to explore more realistic options. And three current and former Washington Commanders quarterbacks may be the best recourse.
1. Carson Wentz best free agent option for Jets
The Jets are already down a second-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft due to the Aaron Rodgers trade. Therefore, logic says they’ll call around to free agents to add to their QB room. Carson Wentz is an option.
After nearly winning the NFL MVP in 2017, Wentz has had a tumultuous stretch in his career. He watched Nick Foles win his Super Bowl after a torn ACL. Since then, Wentz has chased the ghost of his past.
That led to him playing for three teams in three years. Jalen Hurts supplanted Wentz as the Eagles franchise QB. Wentz got traded to the Indianapolis Colts, and that train went off the rails in one season, leading to him getting shipped to Washington. Wentz stumbled in Washington as well. The Commanders were over the experiment after one season.
Nowadays, Wentz is hunting and working out in his former teams’ gears, waiting for a call from an NFL team. In his final two seasons, Wentz has 38 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 25 games. Meanwhile, he’s completed over 62% of his passes.
Like that 2017 Eagles team, the Jets are loaded with talented players. The Jets are stacked at wide receiver and running back with notable players. The offensive line is somewhat shaky, but Wentz provides mobility to negate the transgressions up front.
Wentz has stated he is willing to be a backup. Jets general manager Joe Douglas may be inclined to test the waters on Wentz to provide a veteran ear for Wilson while Rodgers rehabs.
2. Trade for Jacoby Brissett
Jacoby Brissett is a consummate pro. He has experience as a backup and starter. More importantly, Brissett has a history of stepping in for a big-name QB in a time of need. He did it during Tom Brady’s suspension for Deflategate. He also did it with Indianapolis after Andrew Luck retired.
Last year, Brissett started 11 games for the Cleveland Browns while Deshaun Watson served his suspension for violating the NFL’s sexual misconduct policy.
Brissett arrived in Washington expected to compete with second-year QB Sam Howell. However, the competition never truly existed. Despite head coach Ron Rivera’s urging, Brissett wasn’t a threat to Howell.
Instead, Brissett started the 2023 season, aiding Howell from the sideline. Yes, it’s premature to move Brissett when the starting QB has just two NFL starts. But Brissett isn’t in the team’s future plans.
There may never be a better time to maximize the team’s assets by trading Brissett to the Jets for some draft capital. The Jets could be desperate to have someone viable behind or challenging Wilson.
Brissett has mobility and a strong arm that could fit Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s system. The NC State product can extend plays when the protection breaks down. He also can get the ball out of his hands and to the perimeter of the talented wide receivers.
Brissett may be a better option than anyone available. Still, it’s hard to imagine Washington being willing to trade Brissett this early into Howell’s tenure.
The jury is still out on Howell, and Rivera’s coaching future remains uncertain with the Commanders. Rivera may need to turn to Brissett at some point in the season to save his job.
3. Pry Case Keenum obscurity
Remember Case Keenum? The quarterback who threw the Minneapolis Miracle to Stefon Diggs in the 2017-18 divisional round against the New Orleans Saints.
That year, some forget Keenum was the replacement for an injured Sam Bradford. Keenum went 11-3 as a starter behind a talented roster. He managed the Vikings offense to the NFC Championship Game.
The Vikings moved on from him the following offseason for Kirk Cousins. After a stint in Denver, Keenum landed with Washington, who needed a QB a year after Alex Smith’s catastrophic leg injury.
Keenum didn’t have the same luck with Washington in 2019 as with Minnesota. He didn’t have the same type of roster in Washington, either. The Jets are more talented than that Vikings squad.
Keenum could mimic his 2017 season by throwing passes to wide receivers Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb. He would also have Dalvin Cook, Breece Hall, and Michael Carter as running backs.
Right now, the 35-year-old Keenum is the third quarterback for the Houston Texans behind rookie CJ Stroud and Davis Mills. Keenum has experience learning different systems, having played on eight teams.
