Did Russell Wilson's retirement ruin the Jets backup quarterback plan?

The New York Jets quarterback room currently features one seasoned veteran in Geno Smith and three other guys, all with their own question marks.

Cade Klubnik is a rookie with no NFL experience, Bailey Zappe is a journeyman who has never been able to stay in one place for too long, and 2025 undrafted free agent Brady Cook had four horrendous starts to close the season last year.

It's why the Jets reportedly had interest in adding veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in free agency. They had him in for a visit at the facility, and allegedly had an offer on the table for his services.

Instead, Wilson chose retirement. He'll be appearing on your TV screens this fall as an analyst for CBS, and the Jets are without a veteran backup behind Smith. Did the Seattle Seahawks legends' decision ruin New York's chances of adding another quarterback?

Rich Cimini says the Jets did not have 'all of their eggs in the Russell Wilson basket'

Apparently, that's not the case. On the Jets Collective show, ESPN's Rich Cimini reported that the Jets were speaking with multiple veteran quarterbacks, not just Wilson.

"I don't think the Jets had all their eggs in the Russell Wilson basket. I know that for sure. I don't even know if they had a couple of eggs in the Russell Wilson basket. They're talking to a lot of different veterans...I think they're going to go through the rest of this period, these OTAs and minicamp with the current players... then I think they'll look around in training camp to see if anyone shakes free."

Rich Cimini

If what Cimini is saying is true, it sounds like Wilson's decision did not affect the Jets as much as some initially made it out to be.

It's unlikely New York would be 100% comfortable with either Klubnik or Zappe being the primary insurance policy behind Smith, but maybe one of them could prove it throughout the summer.

If not, there are still a few veterans the Jets could turn to. Longtime San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains unsigned, but rumors linger about his own potential retirement.

Cooper Rush, who was most recently with the Baltimore Ravens, is another option. But he did not look great in two starts last season. At a minimum, he would bring a level of experience that no other Jets quarterback has outside of Smith.

If none of the available free agents strike the Jets' fancy, maybe flipping a 2027 Day 3 draft pick for someone like Will Levis or Spencer Rattler would be more palatable.

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