Jets just got $71 million reasons to walk away from controversial free-agent gamble

The New York Jets more pressing need this offseason has to be the quarterback position.

After the Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook brigade in 2025, most Jets fans will be pleased with consistent league-average play, and the team is expected to exhaust all options on their hunt for a new trigger man.

That means examining the upcoming draft class, scouring the trade market, and, of course, checking the available free agent quarterbacks.

Although the Jets shouldn't be picky when it comes to finding their next signal caller, there's one quarterback that New York should probably pull their consideration from, thanks to a new projection on his free agent contract.

Jets should probably stay away from Malik Willis after $71 million contract projection

Arguably, the top quarterback on the market will be Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis, who is set to test unrestricted free agency after finishing the 2025 season completing 85% of his passes for 422 yards and five total touchdowns in four appearances.

Spotrac projects Willis to land a two-year, $71 million deal in March, predicting an average annual salary of $35.5 million, putting him between Geno Smith and Sam Darnold as the 18th-highest paid quarterback in the NFL, per Over the Cap.

The Jets certainly have the cap space to facilitate that contract, but the real question is should they?

Willis' end-of-season stats were impressive, despite the limited sample size. But does that necessarily mean he'll replicate the same output over a 17-game stretch and without Packers head coach Matt LaFleur there to guide him?

I wouldn't bet on it, and neither should the Jets. It would be a similar gamble to last year's Fields contract. A quarterback who is athletic and physically talented but hasn't proven to be consistent enough to be your franchise guy.

The Jets are better off opting for a more experienced veteran, such as a Jacoby Brissett or Kirk Cousins type. The production won't be eye-popping, but you know you're at least getting league-average play.

Willis is an exciting option, and it makes sense why he'll garner a decent-sized contract in his free agency, but let some other team take a swing at him. Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey can't afford to whiff on a quarterback for the second year in a row.

If they end up inking Willis to that large of a contract and he fizzles out the same way Fields did in 2025, both Glenn and Mougey will be looking for new jobs next offseason.