3 QB options if the NY Jets somehow don't trade for Aaron Rodgers

Let me start by saying this once again — Aaron Rodgers is coming to the NY Jets.

It makes far too much sense for both sides to get a deal done, and no matter how much Green Bay Packers fans scream and shout about just forcing Rodgers to retire, trading him somewhere else, or allowing him to serve as a backup for Jordan Love, those things just aren't happening.

Rodgers will be traded to the Jets. I still think he will be traded before the NFL Draft or even possibly on draft weekend. The Jets want to get Rodgers in the building as soon as they can but have also stated they are fine waiting it out.

The Packers also want 2023 NFL Draft picks to improve this year's team. If they wait until after the draft, the best they can get is 2024 picks, which likely won't be as high and don't make the 2023 Packers any better.

That said, there is a doomsday scenario here. As many Jets fans will say, "It's the Jets — anything can still happen." And although I strongly feel the trade is done, yeah, it is the Jets, and anything can happen.

The most likely doomsday scenario, in my mind, is that this drags on straight through the summer, and without 2023 picks, the Packers have no incentive to move him. Rodgers says forget it and retires or refuses to show up and play for anyone, period.

In that scenario, or one like it, what would the Jets do? They have backed themselves into a corner on this one and left a few bailout options open. They passed on Derek Carr already this offseason and have seen almost every legitimate starter or backup option sign elsewhere.

With that in mind, below are three realistic options for the Jets in the unlikely scenario they cannot get an Aaron Rodgers trade done.

1. The NY Jets could sign a veteran on a 1-year deal

Now I know this does not seem like a likely choice, and I don't see this happening either, but there are still some interesting names on the free-agent market that the Jets could hypothetically bring in for a one-year deal.

With the idea that the Rodgers trade deal would finally fall apart in the late summer, the Jets would need to bring in a veteran with experience who would still be available at that point to quickly take over the locker room. Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, and Mason Rudolph top the charts in this category.

None of those names jump off the page the same way Aaron Rodgers does, but they would provide a lot of experience at the quarterback position for a team in need of a stable quarterback.

Of the group, the most likely candidate for the Jets would be Carson Wentz because of his age (still only 30) and his potential upside, not to mention his connection to Jets general manager Joe Douglas.

Wentz is not a good NFL quarterback anymore, make no mistake about it, but think about this — is he better than Zach Wilson last year? I would have to argue yes, and any improvement over Wilson has to be taken seriously as an option.

With Wentz at quarterback and assuming the continued steadiness of the defense, the return of Alijah Vera-Tucker and Breece Hall, and better offensive line play from impact players in the draft, the Jets are still a playoff team.

2. The NY Jets could draft a replacement

Again, it's hard to see how this would possibly go, and I think in this scenario, the Jets would need to know Rodgers was not coming sooner rather than later.

There are reports that the teams have stopped talking over the last few weeks and that the Jets and Packers are farther off than what is currently being reported. The Packers have not moved off wanting an unconditional first-round pick, and they also expect another high-level draft pick.

The Jets have refused to include a first-round pick so far and don't seem inclined to anytime soon. Let's say draft night rolls around, the Packers demand pick 13, and the Jets refuse and draft a top-tier offensive lineman.

The Packers, realizing they just blew their chance this year, refuse to talk to the Jets and call the whole thing off. Round 2 starts and with picks 42 and 43, fearful of not adding any talent to the quarterback room, the Jets look at what players are draft worthy at those picks.

Assuming that the big names are already long gone by picks 42 or 43, who could be available for the Jets? Hendon Hooker, Tanner McKee, Max Duggan, and Jake Haener are all on the board.

The name most linked to the Jets has been Hooker, with some fans and reporters suggesting the Jets could draft Hooker as the heir apparent to Rodgers. In this hypothetical, Rodgers isn't even here.

Taking an unproven mid-round quarterback and immediately making them the starter of a potential playoff team is a lot of pressure on a young player.

Someone like Hooker, the unquestioned best of this group, would not even be ready to play by the start of the season while recovering from an ACL tear. How could this possibly work?

In this scenario, I think the Jets would actually trade Zach Wilson for as much draft capital as they could get back. Even if it ends up just being a fifth or sixth-rounder, they would use it to add as much talent around a new rookie quarterback as possible. A trade for DeAndre Hopkins would become much more likely and possible as well with the added cap space.

Hooker would sit until healthy and then take over the job. He would add to the young core of Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Alijah Vera-Tucker, this year's first-round choice, Sauce Gardner, and Quinnen Williams.

Although Hooker or another drafted quarterback is not Aaron Rodgers, that is a pretty exciting core to build around for the next five years while also competing for a playoff position this year.

3. One last chance for Zach Wilson

If the draft comes and goes, all the picks are added to the roster, and by late summer, it appears that Rodgers will not be coming to the Jets, the team might have to look in the mirror and face reality.

By that point, it is highly probable any worthy veterans would be signed to fill out active rosters or replace injured players. What options might the Jets have?

This would be the ultimate doomsday scenario in my mind. After an entire offseason of proclaiming Wilson to be the backup next year and actively pursuing every quarterback on the market, going back to Wilson and telling him to be ready to play would be quite the turn of events.

Even more so, how would the locker room, who lost all faith in Wilson last year, react?

Let's start by saying this — Wilson did win games last year. In fact, he won his first four starts of the year. Yes, a lot of this was not because of Wilson, but in spite of him.

Before the dreadful New England games, he was showing signs of improvement though. He only tallied two turnovers across four games and managed to beat the Buffalo Bills in a game where he was 18-for-25 with a touchdown and no turnovers.

With another offseason, more weapons brought in, more steady offensive line play, and a running game behind Breece Hall, could Zach Wilson turn into Mark Sanchez 2.0?

Manage games, hit check downs, and throw to good receivers when they are open. Lean into the run game, don't turn the ball over, and let the defense and special teams get the Jets to the playoffs. Once there, who would want to play them and their defense in a win-or-go-home scenario?

This is the same plan the Jets used to guide them to back-to-back AFC Championship Games under Sanchez, who also struggled with turnovers and a lack of confidence.

Could it be the same recipe the Jets use a decade later to get back into the playoffs? It might not be what fans want, but without Aaron Rodgers, what other options might be available?