5 veteran backup quarterbacks the NY Jets should target in 2024

The NY Jets have made the mistake of ignoring the backup quarterback position for far too long now, and in 2023, we saw just how detrimental that could be. The Jets' offense fell apart following Aaron Rodgers' injury, and the lack of any competent backup quarterback was a primary reason why.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas seemed to acknowledge this in his end-of-the-season press conference earlier this month. He also showed his hand, suggesting that there was a high probability the Jets would add a veteran backup QB this offseason.

It makes sense for the Jets to add some legitimate security behind Rodgers, who will be 40 years old and coming off a torn Achilles. The Jets can't afford to have a repeat of what happened last season.

The team will be in the market for a veteran backup, but who might be available? Here are five veteran backup quarterbacks the Jets should consider targeting this offseason.

5. The NY Jets could sign Teddy Bridgewater

The Jets had every opportunity to sign Teddy Bridgewater last offseason. The former Minnesota Vikings first-round pick wasn't signed until August when he agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Detroit Lions.

Five days later, the Jets would sign Dalvin Cook to a contract worth double that. Chances are the Jets wouldn't make the same decision if they were given a second chance.

They should have another opportunity to sign Bridgewater this offseason. The 31-year-old appeared in just one game as Jared Goff's primary backup in 2023, but he has 65 career starts under his belt and has transitioned into one of the best backup quarterbacks in football.

Bridgewater's days as a starter might be in the past, but he's proven to be a reliable bridge (no pun intended) quarterback and high-end backup. That's exactly what the Jets should be looking for this offseason.

*Note: Bridgewater has hinted that he might retire after this season. This is, of course, assuming he doesn't.*

4. The NY Jets could sign Gardner Minshew

Another backup quarterback the Jets could've signed for cheap last offseason is Gardner Minshew. The former Jacksonville Jaguars QB agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts last offseason, and he went on to start 13 games for the team in 2023.

Minshew took over for the injured Anthony Richardson and helped lead the Colts to a 9-8 record, on the verge of a postseason appearance. He didn't light up the stat sheet, but Minshew held down the fort and provided stability and competency to the quarterback position.

He's very similar to Bridgewater in that he's probably not good enough to be a full-time starter, but he's more than capable of starting a handful of games and keeping a team's season afloat in the event their starter gets injured.

Minshew should be high on the Jets' list of potential backup quarterback options this offseason. You aren't going to find many better backups on the open market.

3. The NY Jets could sign Sam Darnold

This would make for quite the story. Sam Darnold never lived up to expectations during his time with the Jets, ultimately lasting just three years in New York before he was shipped to Carolina and replaced by Zach Wilson.

Wouldn't it be something if Darnold returned to Florham Park to replace the quarterback the Jets drafted to assume his role a few years back? Only this time, it wouldn't be as a starter.

Darnold didn't fare well as a starter in Carolina, although he showed some promise down the stretch in 2022. He spent the entirety of the 2023 season as Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco, so he has experience in a similar offensive system to the one the Jets run.

Darnold may not be the most obvious backup quarterback target for the Jets, but he would undoubtedly be an upgrade over their current crop of backups. Why not have a little fun and bring Darnold back to his first NFL home?

2. The NY Jets could sign Jacoby Brissett

Jacoby Brissett is good enough to legitimately start on a handful of teams around the NFL. He's proven over the last two seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders that he's a very capable low-end starter in this league.

Brissett started 11 games for the Browns in 2022, finishing with 12 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He completed 64 percent of his passes and averaged a career-high 7.0 yards per attempt.

Jets fans got a close look at Brissett in December when he helped orchestrate a near Commanders comeback win on Christmas Eve. If not for a hamstring injury suffered in practice the following week, he would've started the remainder of the year for Washington.

Brissett might have other opportunities to compete for a starting job on other teams, but if he's willing to come to New York and serve as Aaron Rodgers' backup, the Jets should be all over him this offseason.

1. The NY Jets could sign Ryan Tannehill

This, at least on paper, feels like the most likely option for the Jets. Ryan Tannehill is set to be a free agent this offseason, and it's hard to imagine he'll return to Tennessee after he was benched in favor of rookie Will Levis last year.

Tannehill will be 36 years old in July, and it sure seems like his time as a starter is over. The Jets make a ton of sense as a landing spot for Tannehill to transition into a full-time backup role.

The Texas native could reunite with multiple former Titans coaches in New York, including former offensive coordinator Todd Downing and assistants Keith Carter and Tony Dews. He's already familiar with the offensive coaching staff.

Tannehill is likely still a high-end backup quarterback at this stage of his career, and his experience with Downing and the others makes him a likely target. At the very least, he's a significant upgrade over the likes of Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, and Tim Boyle.