Who will be the Jets' starting quarterback in 2026? A list of options

New YorK Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has made the quarterback change to Tyrod Taylor for Week 12's game against the Baltimore Ravens. Barring injury likely for the rest of the season.

Glenn’s hands were tied after another disappointing performance from QB Justin Fields in the team’s Week 11 loss to the New England Patriots. Fields will serve as the backup quarterback but we could also see Brady Cook at some point towards the final games.

The decision pretty much closes the door on Fields starting in 2026 and it's also possible he's played last game in a Jets uniform.

New York will almost certainly be in the market for a new quarterback in free agency as well as the draft where they now have two first-round picks after the Sauce Gardner trade.

There will be plenty of options available when the new league year begins and the pressure will be on Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey to find a competent starting quarterback to lead the team and end the longest active playoff drought.

With that, here are some quarterbacks that could be available for the Jets next season:

Trade: Kyler Murray

Murray is a playmaker who can beat you through the air as well as using his legs. The problem is he can't stay healthy as he's missed games in three of his last four seasons. This year is no different as Murray hasn't played since Week 5 and the Cardinals recently placed him on IR with a foot injury. Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon has said Murray will be the starter if he returns, but the team's offense has been better with Jacoby Brissett under center.

Murray’s best season was back in 2020 where he threw for close to 4,000 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 rushing touchdowns. He played all 17 games last year and finished with stats similar to 2020 (3,851 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns).

Arizona needs to make a decision on Murray's future after the season as his 2027 salary of $19.5 million becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the new league year. He hasn't played remotely close to an elite quarterback, but a change of scenery could benefit him as well as playing in a big market like New York.

Trade: Trevor Lawrence

The former number one overall pick continues to be a massive disappointment in Jacksonville. He’s completing less than 60% of his passes this season and has only 11 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Lawrence hasn’t thrown for 300 yards in any game this season and for a quarterback labeled a “generational talent”, he's only made the postseason once and that was in 2022.

Lawrence signed a five-year, $275 million extension with the Jags last year which also includes a full no-trade clause. A trade seems highly unlikely, but nothing should ever be ruled out.

Trade: Mac Jones

Jones has become a popular option lately as he's played well for the Niners while Brock Purdy is out with an injury. He’s completing close to 70% of his passes and has 13 touchdowns on the season. Jones is under contract for next year, but the Niners have made a major financial commitment to Purdy and it doesn't sound like they are ready to move on from him.

While he’s had a strong season with the Niners, his previous years leave a lot to be desired. After his rookie season in New England in 2021 where the Patriots made the playoffs, Jones combined for 32 touchdowns and 31 interceptions over his next three seasons with New England and Jacksonville. Any team that trades for Jones should take the overall body of work into consideration and not be blinded by one stretch of good play in one season.

Free Agency

The free agent class in 2026 for quarterbacks is very weak with Daniel Jones probably the best one available. However, due to his strong season in Indianapolis it’s highly unlikely the Colts let him leave as a free agent and he'll probably get franchise tagged in the offseason.

If the Jets are looking for a bridge quarterback for one year and prefer not to trade draft picks for Murray or Lawrence, they could pivot to Russell Wilson or Marcus Mariota and keep Fields as a backup. Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco are also free agents after this season, but neither is an option for the Jets.

NFL Draft

The 2026 quarterback class is good, but not exactly elite. Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is the consensus top quarterback in this draft, but keep an eye on Alabama's Ty Simpson and Oregon's Dante Moore as possible options. The Jets currently have the fifth pick in April's draft. It's unknown how interested the Jets are in any of the quarterbacks although it was reported that Glenn and Mougey visited Indiana and scouted Mendoza.

Cleveland and New Orleans could also look to draft a quarterback and are currently ahead of the Jets in the draft order. The Raiders could also sneak up to the top of the draft and select a quarterback if they prefer to move on from Geno Smith. While the switch from Fields to Taylor should improve the offense, it could also be counterproductive if the Jets win games that could hurt their chances of landing their future signal caller.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Who will be the Jets' starting quarterback in 2026? A list of options