Derek Carr and the 3 most realistic QB options for the NY Jets in 2023

The NY Jets' quarterback room could look vastly different in a few months from now. The franchise will once again be in search of a solution at the quarterback position after what can only be described as a failure of a 2022 season for that specific position.

The Jets entered the year with high hopes for second-year QB Zach Wilson who was looking to rebound from a lackluster rookie season. Unfortunately, the exact opposite happened.

Wilson self-destructed and firmly established himself as one of the biggest busts in recent NFL history. While the Jets insist they aren't done with Wilson, it's all just coach speak. It's highly likely we never see Wilson take the field for the Jets again.

That means the team will have to enact a new plan for the 2023 season. Perhaps that plan involves a player currently on the roster. Perhaps it involves an external addition. Either way, Wilson is out of the equation.

While many would love to see the Jets go out and trade for someone like Lamar Jackson, such a scenario remains highly unlikely for a number of reasons.

The same could be said for Aaron Rodgers or even Tom Brady. Rodgers' contract makes any potential trade unlikely while Brady choosing to sign with the Jets seems a bit farfetched. They're all possible, sure, but none are exactly likely.

We're here to talk about the likely outcomes. The three most feasible and realistic plans the Jets could formulate for the quarterback position.

These options may not be the preferred scenarios to some, but they are seemingly the most likely as of the time of writing. Let's take a look at what we came up with.

3. The NY Jets re-sign Mike White and sign a competent backup

The Mike White scenario largely depends on how he plays over the final two games of the season (and perhaps the postseason). White has earned the right to play himself into 2023 consideration, but there are still various variables at play.

For instance, if White helps the Jets win their final two games and leads them to the playoffs, his case for 2023 becomes stronger. It becomes even stronger if he manages to win a playoff game or two.

White has already made an outstanding impression in his starts this season, but there's a lot at stake — both for the player and the team. The Jets are looking to make one final playoff push while White is looking to stake his claim as the guy the Jets should build around.

That said, it's hard to imagine White is able to do enough to be considered the undisputed guy moving forward. At best, the Jets would likely sign a high-level backup to provide insurance behind White in 2023.

Think of someone like Jacoby Brissett or even Gardner Minshew. A player who can serve as a fringe starter in case White falters or even extra insurance in the scenario that White misses time.

Having a capable backup would be extremely important if the Jets ultimately did decide to re-sign White and make him the starter. Right now, White isn't at that level yet. He hasn't done enough to prove to the Jets that he deserves to start next season, but there's still time.

The next two weeks are an audition for Mike White. The Jets will determine whether or not he gets the gig.

2. The NY Jets sign/trade for Derek Carr

This scenario just became a lot more feasible following the Las Vegas Raiders' decision to bench Derek Carr this past week. The move effectively ended Carr's time with the Raiders and ensured that the two sides would be parting ways this offseason.

It's a move that's been a long time coming, but it wasn't confirmed until this past week. Now, Carr will almost definitely be looking for a new home in 2023, and the Jets figure to be near the top of his list of potential suitors.

The Raiders now have two options; they can either outright release Carr or attempt to trade him. The former is the easiest and safest option while the latter requires a workaround and a bit of trust.

The Raiders would be on the hook for $40.4 million if Carr was on their roster past the third day of the 2023 waiver period. Any "trades" agreed to don't become official until the start of the new league year in March.

That means the Raiders can agree to trade Carr to a new team and avoid his guaranteed money kicking in, but if the deal were to fall through prior to the start of the new league year, they'd, for lack of a better phrase, be screwed. They'd be on the hook for Carr's $40.4 million in guarantees.

That's why it seems increasingly likely that the Raiders just outright release Carr, which makes him an even more appealing option for the Jets.

They wouldn't have to surrender assets in a trade nor would they have to take on Carr's remaining salary. That makes him a much more feasible target.

Expect the Jets to be heavily involved in Carr's market this offseason and maybe, just maybe, he ends up as the team's starting quarterback in 2023.

1. The NY Jets sign Jimmy Garoppolo

The Jets/Jimmy Garoppolo connection has made sense for quite some time now. Garoppolo has ample experience with the Jets' coaching staff having previously spent time with the likes of Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur in San Francisco.

He's an experienced veteran quarterback who could provide stability to a position that has been anything but stable for the Jets over the last decade. It's easy to see why the Jets would be interested.

Garoppolo is set to be a free agent this offseason and it's hard to imagine the 49ers will look to bring him back with Trey Lance and now Brock Purdy in the picture. He will be playing for a new team in 2023.

The Jets are the most obvious fit for the above reasons, and much like Carr, he won't require any trade assets to acquire. It's as simple as agreeing to a deal in free agency.

There are some red flags with Garoppolo. His injury history is a concern and he has thrived under ideal circumstances in the most QB-friendly system in the NFL.

Garoppolo is a good quarterback who can give you league-average QB play — which is honestly all the Jets have been looking for. However, he is a clear step down from Carr and a few other options that might be available (Jackson, Rodgers, Brady).

That said, the coaching staff/scheme fit is as obvious as it gets. No team makes more sense for Garoppolo than the Jets and it still seems likely that they express serious interest in signing him this offseason.

Would Jimmy Garoppolo be the flashiest addition? Not at all. But he is a capable quarterback who fits the bill of exactly what the Jets are looking for. He remains atop the list of realistic Jets 2023 quarterback candidates.