Jets' veteran QB option with ties to Frank Reich expected to be released

Could this veteran QB come in and stabilize the position for the Jets?

Charlie Baduini

New York Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Now that the New York Jets have their offensive coordinator in Frank Reich, they can start to address the biggest question facing the team this offseason. Who will be under center when the Jets kick off the 2026 season?

Of course, in a year where New York holds the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, it's a one-quarterback class, and the Las Vegas Raiders have no intention of moving off the No. 1 pick. They seem deadset on selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

That means the Jets will likely be examining their veteran options this offseason, in both the free-agent and trade markets, and according to a recent report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, a veteran option with ties to Reich may just be on the open market.

Jets QB option Kirk Cousins expected to be released by Falcons

Schefter reported on Saturday that the Atlanta Falcons are planning on releasing quarterback Kirk Cousins, avoiding the $67.9 million base salary that becomes fully guaranteed on March 13.

Cousins will have the chance to test unrestricted free agency for the third time in his career, but Schefter also noted that the 37-year-old will mull several TV opportunities along with retirement.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt named Cousins as a potential Jets option in 2026 before the news of his eventual release, thanks to his ties to the new offensive coordinator, Reich.

Now, Cousins has never played for Reich before, but the two have reportedly "struck up a friendship together" off the field that's "tied to their faith." Enter the Jets, a team with a desperate need at quarterback and a coach who would likely be excited to work with Cousins.

This offseason could be the second time the Jets flirt with a free-agent Cousins. Back in 2018, then general manager Mike Maccagnan tried to lure the quarterback to New York with a three-year, $90 million contract. Instead, he opted to take $6 million less to join the Minnesota Vikings.

The Jets pivoted to Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown, then drafted Sam Darnold No. 3 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The rest is history.

Cousins was benched for poor play during the 2024 season in favor of first-round pick Michael Penix Jr., but when serving as the starter this past season after Penix tore his ACL, Cousins played well, completing 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards and tossing 10 touchdowns to five interceptions.

It's not elite quarterback play, but it's steady enough that New York would've killed for that level of competency this past season.

Add in the fact that Reich historically loves an old-school pocket passer, and he may just be one of the better options available to the Jets this offseason.

Charlie Baduini

Charlie Baduini covers the New York Jets as a site expert for The Jet Press and FanSided. He is a sports journalist based in Northern New Jersey with a wide variety of sports reporting experience in print and broadcast journalism. Baduini’s byline can also be seen on Heavy and The Sporting News, where he covers several teams across the NFL and NBA. His work has been featured in Heavy, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Yahoo Sports, MSN, and Yardbarker. He also serves as a seasonal intern for ESPN, working as a production assistant for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony every year since 2022. Baduini has been a Jets fan for as long as he can remember, with his family's fandom dating back to the 1960s when his grandfather, Louis, became a season ticket holder. His family has since held on to the tickets to this day. He is an avid fan of the New York Knicks and New York Mets.