Jets final QB battle comes down to a spring MVP and a rookie wild card

The New York Jets ushered in a new era of football this offseason when they signed Justin Fields to be their starting quarterback, officially closing the chapter on the failed Aaron Rodgers experiment.

Fields is all but guaranteed to start Week 1, with veteran Tyrod Taylor locked in as his backup. But while the top of the depth chart is settled, there’s a quieter, yet still compelling, QB competition brewing this summer.

Former UFL MVP Adrian Martinez and undrafted rookie Brady Cook are set to battle it out in training camp for the Jets' QB3 job. Both quarterbacks are not only vying for a potential practice squad role, but with a strong enough summer, one could even force the Jets to consider carrying three QBs on their 53-man roster.

Quarterback battles are always fun, even at the bottom of the depth chart, especially when they involve a dual-threat spring league star and an intriguing college standout with NFL-caliber traits.

Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook will compete for the Jets' QB3 job

Martinez enters the summer as the slight favorite, partially because of his experience in the building. The former Nebraska and Kansas State standout spent the entire 2024 season on the Jets’ practice squad after beating out rookie Andrew Peasley last summer. He was elevated for one game but didn’t appear in a regular-season contest.

Martinez rose to semi-national attention earlier that year as the 2024 UFL MVP with the Birmingham Stallions. He showcased his trademark dual-threat ability while leading his team to the league's first-ever championship.

He finished his first and so far only UFL season with 1,749 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, three interceptions, and 528 rushing yards in just eight games. That performance helped land him an NFL opportunity with the Jets.

That aforementioned dual-threat ability is part of what makes Martinez such an intriguing fit in the Jets' new-look offense. With Fields as the starter and Tanner Engstrand calling plays, the Jets are expected to emphasize quarterback mobility and designed runs more than ever.

Martinez’s athleticism makes him a logical developmental piece for that type of scheme, even if just on the practice squad. Still, his competition, Brady Cook, shouldn't just be seen as a camp arm.

The former Missouri standout impressed with his natural arm talent and athleticism in college, helping lead the Tigers to an 11-2 record and a Cotton Bowl win in 2023. He threw for over 9,000 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in 47 total college starts.

Cook has enough arm strength to make pretty much every throw, the mobility to extend plays, and plenty of college experience. He also shares a Missouri connection with Jets first-round pick Armand Membou, which certainly doesn't hurt his transition into the locker room.

Ultimately, this QB3 competition might come down to fit versus upside. Martinez has the system familiarity and mobility that mirrors Fields’ skill set. But Cook is younger, has a more traditional developmental profile, and could be a longer-term project worth stashing.

The Jets will have a tough call to make. The majority of NFL teams do carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster these days, but if the Jets don’t, it’s likely one of these two will wind up on the practice squad.

Whether it’s the spring league MVP or the rookie wild card, both Martinez and Cook are sure to have their moments this summer. After all, what’s a preseason without a good QB3 battle?

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