Analyzing the Jets' top QB options if they don't land Aaron Rodgers

The New York Jets have gone all-in on landing Aaron Rodgers. Jets brass, including head coach Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, owner Woody Johnson and GM Joe Douglas, flew to California earlier this week to woo the Packers QB to the Big Apple.

"There's optimism in the Jets' organization that they are on the brink of landing the future Hall of Fame QB," ESPN's Dianna Russini reported Wednesday. 

But what if they don't? 

The non-Rodgers options are limited, especially since Derek Carr signed with the New Orleans Saints. Here are the possibilities:

Jimmy Garoppolo 

The Jets need a proven winner, and the former 49er fits the bill. Garoppolo has a 53-21 record in 74 games as a starting quarterback. Garoppolo's teams have won 71.6% of the games he has started, 7th most in NFL history among quarterbacks who have started at least 70 games. 

Garoppolo has a 99.6 career passer rating, which would be a massive upgrade from Zach Wilson's 70.9.

Ryan Tannehill

Tannehill could also be an option. If the Titans decide to release him, they would save $17.8 million in cap space. 

The Jets recently hired ex-Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing as passing game coordinator, which could make Tannehill an ideal target. 

Tannehill had an injury riddled 2022 season, but posted the 8th-best QBR in 2021 while working with Downing. The Titans posted a 12-5 record and earned the AFC's No. 1 seed.

Baker Mayfield or Jacoby Brissett

Mayfield, who flamed out in Cleveland and Carolina, played well at the end of 2022 with the Los Angeles Rams. He's a free agent, as is Jacoby Brissett, who started for the Browns until Deshaun Watson returned from his 11-game suspension.

Draft a QB

It's unlikely the Jets will want to draft a young quarterback again. In the last five years, the Jets have drafted both Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson in the top five. Darnold had a disasterous tenure in New York, and Wilson is following that same path. 

With a veteran-heavy roster, it makes a lot of sense to target a veteran quarterback.

It's possible that Douglas falls in love with a quarterback in the 2023 Draft. The Jets have all of their future first-round picks, including pick 13 in April's draft, in addition to intriguing young talent they could package together to trade up for Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, or Will Levis.

Now we wait. Does Rodgers want to be a Jet or will they be forced to explore other options?