11 players who can be the starting QB for the NY Jets in 2023

The NY Jets look primed to make a quarterback change in the near future which could serve as the beginning of the end for second-year QB Zach Wilson.

In a little over a year and a half in the NFL, Wilson has done little to prove that he should be the guy going forward for the Jets. If anything, each week is another reminder that Wilson just isn't the player the Jets wanted him to be at this stage.

Could he turn things around? Sure, it's absolutely possible. But at this point in time, the Jets are seriously considering both their short and long-term futures at the position.

In the short-term, the Jets could turn to Mike White (or Joe Flacco) as soon as this week. As for their long-term future, all options are on the table. That includes free-agent options, trade targets, and even the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Jets will explore every possibility to find a solution for their QB problem. Perhaps that solution is on the roster. More than likely, that solution will be searched for this offseason.

The team will give Wilson, White, or whoever the rest of the season to prove that they're worth keeping around as potential building blocks, but nothing is certain anymore. Head coach Robert Saleh made that very clear with his comments on Monday.

This wasn't just a message to Wilson and the rest of the Jets' roster — it was a message to the NFL world. The Jets are in the quarterback market yet again, and they should have their fair share of options this offseason.

Let's take a look at 11 players who could be the Week 1 starting quarterback for the Jets in 2023. But first, a few honorable (or dishonorable?) mentions.

The Honorable (?) Mentions

Carson Wentz

Carson Wentz wore out his welcome in Philadelphia and Indianapolis, and it won't be long before he's done the same in Washington. The former MVP candidate is a shell of his former self and likely isn't the kind of player the Jets want to add to their locker room.

Never discount the Joe Douglas connection, but this one shouldn't happy for a number of reasons.

Nick Foles

Speaking of that Joe Douglas connection, Nick Foles is still kicking around in Indianapolis. Foles is under contract for next season which means it would likely take a trade to get a deal done. We're probably past the point of Foles starting, however.

Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston impressed last season before his knee injury, but he didn't look like the same player in 2022. Winston reverted to his old turnover-prone ways and was eventually benched for Andy Dalton.

The Jets need a conservative game manager and that'll never be Winston's game. He doesn't make sense as an option.

Andy Dalton

The man who replaced Winston in New Orleans has had his highs and lows this season playing with an injury-riddled supporting cast. Andy Dalton is at his best as a fringe starter/high-end backup at this stage of his career.

The Jets can and should do better.

Taylor Heinicke

The Taylor Heinicke story in Washington has been fun and the former XFL backup has captured the hearts of Commanders fans. He's set to be a free agent at the end of the year and there's no guarantee he's brought back.

Still, much like Winston, Heinicke's gunslinger, reckless approach doesn't lend himself to this Jets offense. He turns 30 years old next March as well — he's not a legitimate option.

The Ironic Longshot: Tom Brady

You want your story? You want your headlines? How about Tom Brady leaving Tampa Bay to return to the AFC East for the team he spent two decades tormenting? The narrative writes itself.

It's not a guarantee that Brady even plays another season, but if he wants to continue playing, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him on the move again this offseason.

Brady is set to be a free agent at the end of the season and Tampa's roster isn't exactly making a strong case for him to return. But the Jets? Why would Brady sign with the Jets?

The short answer is, he wouldn't. But maybe, just maybe, Brady wants one final challenge. Maybe he wants to be the guy who finally breaks the decades-long curse that he played a major part in helping maintain.

The NFL is weird sometimes. This would be extraordinarily weird.

Odds: Not going to happen

The Pipedream: Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson is a top-10 quarterback and one of the most unique, dangerous, and dynamic players to ever play the game of football. If he becomes available, there will be no shortage of interested teams, the Jets included.

The problem here is that it still seems unlikely that the Baltimore Ravens mess this situation up to the point that Jackson leaves. the former MVP is set to be a free agent in the offseason and is seeking a fully-guaranteed contract.

The Ravens have balked at that idea which is what stalled extension talks this summer. If the Ravens refuse to budge and instead opt to use the franchise tag, they'll have a very unhappy QB on their hands.

There is a scenario where Jackson leaves, but it remains highly unlikely, as does the idea that the Jets would even be at the top of his list. Still, we could dream.

Odds: Only in our dreams

The Dart Throw: Gardner Minshew

Don't sleep on Gardner Minshew who has impressed whenever he's been given the opportunity. Minshew has thrown for 41 career touchdowns and just 12 interceptions while completing 63 percent of his passes and averaging 7.0 yards per attempt.

All of that was done predominantly as part of a Jacksonville Jaguars team that was among the worst in the NFL. He deserves another opportunity, and he might get it this offseason as he's set to be an unrestricted free agent.

The Jets could be among the interested teams, although signing Minshew to be the guy would certainly feel underwhelming to some. It might be hard to see the fanbase on a guy who's spent the last two seasons as a backup.

Minshew deserves another opportunity to prove he's a starting quarterback in this league, but it seems unlikely the Jets would go this route.

Odds: There are likely better options so don't count on it

The Do-Over: A rookie QB

The upcoming 2023 NFL Draft class is expected to feature a deep and talented crop of quarterbacks. From Alabama's Bryce Young to Ohio State's C.J. Stroud to players like the injured Hendon Hooker, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson, we could see quite a few quarterbacks taken early.

That said, would the Jets really want to start over with another rookie quarterback? This Jets roster is built to compete now, as evidenced by the fact that they're still 6-4 with the worst quarterback play in the NFL this season.

It seems unlikely that the Jets would go through the process of drafting a rookie quarterback and developing him with such a talented and playoff-ready roster.

It's not out of the question, especially if the Jets want to capitalize on the rookie contract window, but the Jets seem more likely to target a veteran than a rookie if they move on from Zach Wilson.

Odds: Seems unlikely

The Savior: Mike White

What if Mike White is the answer the Jets have been searching for all along? The former fifth-round pick might very well receive another opportunity to showcase his talents if Wilson is benched in the near future.

White captured the imagination of Jets fans and the NFL world last season with his miraculous performance against the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals last season. It even earned him an exhibit in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

'Mike White Mania' temporarily made headlines for a few weeks in 2021, but it quickly faded following a disastrous four-interception performance against the Buffalo Bills.

White would need to significantly cut down on his turnovers and play safer football, but he'll probably have a chance to prove himself soon enough. Stranger things have happened.

Odds: Miracles can happen

The Uninspiring Option: Ryan Tannehill

Ryan Tannehill is a fine quarterback. The 34-year-old has thrown for 10 touchdowns and four interceptions in eight starts this season all while playing with arguably the worst receiving corps in the NFL.

Much like the Jets, the Tennessee Titans lean heavily on their ground game which takes pressure off their quarterback. The Titans don't ask Tannehill to do a lot, similar to how the Jets have rarely asked much of their quarterbacks in this system.

In that sense, Tannehill fits the bill. That said, the finances involved might make this tricky. The Titans have an out in Tannehill's contract that would still cost them nearly $19 million in dead cap.

They could look to trade him, but his $38.6 million cap hit could complicate matters. Would the Titans feel comfortable turning the reigns of the offense over to Malik Willis? Would they make another addition?

This one is possible, but there are some obstacles to overcome first.

Odds: Possible but not preferred

The Uninspiring Option Part 2: Jared Goff

Another incumbent starter who could be on the move this offseason is Jared Goff. Goff has thrown for 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 63 percent of his passes in 10 starts with the Detroit Lions this season.

The former first-overall pick is a low-tier starter at this point and a bit too turnover-prone to be considered anything more. That said, his finances are a little more promising than Tannehill's.

The Lions could cut Goff this offseason with just $10 million in dead cap, a scenario that seems more likely than any team trading for his $31 million salary in 2023 and 2024.

Goff would be an upgrade for the Jets, but that's not saying much at this stage. Much like Tannehill, he's a feasible target, but not a preferred one.

Odds: Possible but not preferred Part 2

The Last Ride: Aaron Rodgers

Zach Wilson has been outspoken about his idolization of Aaron Rodgers. How fitting would it be for the Jets to move on from Wilson and replace him with his longtime role model?

Rodgers has done his best with a bad supporting cast in Green Bay this season, but it seems clear that the future Hall of Famer isn't exactly happy with his current situation.

There have been some rumblings that Rodgers could request a trade this offseason, and the Jets do make sense as a potential landing spot. The Jets would have to give up assets and take on his contract, but Rodgers can still play.

It would be a short-term fix rather than a long-term solution, but why not Aaron Rodgers? Brett Favre 2.0 anyone?a

Odds: Why not?

The Change of Scenery: Derek Carr

Now we get into the realistic and appealing options. Nothing has gone right for the Las Vegas Raiders this season, and after years of losing, it seems as though Derek Carr might finally be the fall guy for the franchise's ineptitude.

Carr is pretty inarguably a top-15 quarterback in the NFL, and despite the rampant criticism he's faced in Las Vegas, he's still come through time and time again. He's put together 13 game-winning drives since the start of the 2020 season.

Still, it seems as though the Raiders are ready to move on, with Carr in need of a change of scenery. The Jets could be among the most realistic trade destinations for the former Pro Bowl quarterback.

It would take a sizable financial and draft capital investment (assuming he's not released) to acquire Carr, but it might just be worth it to land a quarterback they can absolutely win with.

Odds: Very feasible

The Perfect Fit: Jimmy Garoppolo

If you were placing bets on who would be the Jets' Week 1 starting quarterback in 2023, it might be wise to make a Jimmy Garoppolo investment. Garoppolo makes all the sense in the world for Gang Green.

The former second-round pick is set to be a free agent at the end of the year and it seems unlikely that he'll be back in San Francisco with Trey Lance returning. As for the Jets, they appear to be his most likely destination.

Garoppolo has experience with both Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur and plays in a very similar offensive system in San Francisco. He's also exactly what the Jets are looking for at the quarterback position.

Garoppolo is a smart, savvy veteran quarterback who is an idealistic game manager. He might not win you many games with his own talent, but he sure isn't going to lose you many either.

Of all the external additions the Jets could make, Garoppolo absolutely makes the most sense.

Odds: The most likely external addition

The Incumbent: Zach Wilson

Then we have Zach Wilson. The Jets opened the door to benching Wilson on Monday, but they stopped short of completely sidelining him. At best, his status as the Jets' starting QB can be described as contentious at the moment.

Wilson's Jets and NFL careers hang in the balance as the Jets approach their Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears. If he starts, it'll likely be his last opportunity to prove that deserves another chance.

One more misstep on the field or misguided response off of it and the Jets won't hesitate to send Wilson to the bench. His leash is as short as it's been.

But one scenario can't be overlooked when discussing the Jets' quarterback situation in 2023. There's certainly a non-zero chance that Wilson is once again the starting QB next season.

It may seem unlikely at this point, but he should probably be the leader in the clubhouse by virtue of the fact that he's already on the team — and it's hard to imagine he's going anywhere.

Wilson is still under contract for another two years and it's difficult to believe any team would want to trade for him and take on his salary. The Jets will likely have Wilson on their roster in 2023, at the very least as a backup.

If Wilson bounces back over the final stretch of the season, he could still be the guy next year. Is it possible that Wilson salvages his starting job from the burnt ashes of his smoldering career? Sure. Is it likely? Not exactly.

The Jets haven't completely given up on Zach Wilson yet, but it's going to take some serious rehabbing if he wants to be the team's starting QB come September 2023.

Odds: He'll likely be on the roster regardless so...