NY Jets: 4 backup quarterbacks the team could trade for

The NY Jets are still in search of their backup quarterback even as we approach the end of June.

With the likes of Nick Mullens and Brian Hoyer, two players connected to the Jets in rumors this offseason, now off the market, the team's options are running rather slim.

In terms of free agents the Jets could turn to, there aren't many realistic targets left. The likes of Robert Griffin III, Brett Hundley, and Matt Barkley highlight a razor-thin group of veteran quarterbacks that remain unsigned.

The Jets made the decision to move on from Sam Darnold this offseason in favor of rookie second overall pick Zach Wilson. But just as Darnold had Joe Flacco backing him up last year, the Jets would like to bring in a veteran to reinforce their inexperienced QB room.

Mike White and James Morgan aren't the answer. And given the options remaining in free agency, the Jets might be better off turning to the trade market to find their backup quarterback for the 2021 season.

A couple of the names on this list won't come as a surprise given that they aren't exactly strangers to trade rumors. But looking ahead to this summer, there are a few semi-notable quarterbacks who could find themselves on the outside looking in.

And thus they could be traded, when all is said and done.

Let's take a look at four backup quarterbacks the Jets could acquire in a trade.

4. The NY Jets could trade for Joshua Dobbs

Joshua Dobbs is no stranger to fall trades as the former fourth-round pick was shipped to the Jacksonville Jaguars prior to the start of the 2019 season in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

Ultimately, Dobbs would be released the following year before being claimed off waivers by the same team that drafted him a few years earlier — the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now Dobbs finds himself battling for the third-string quarterback job in Pittsburgh with former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins.

Is Dobbs the most appealing or experienced option out there? Not necessarily, but there's a decent chance he could be looking for a new team this fall and the Jets make some sense.

Dobbs has more NFL experience than both White and Morgan and the Steelers remain high on him. After all, there's a reason the Jaguars shipped a fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh to acquire him back in 2019.

They genuinely believed in him.

It's likely that this wouldn't take any more than a future late-round pick at most and it is a route the Jets could take, even if it's not the most appealing.

Would Dobbs be an upgrade over what the Jets have? Probably. But there are better options available.

3. The NY Jets could trade for Kyle Allen

Ideally, the Jets want a backup who at least has some experience as a starter. And one possible target who fits that criteria and has flown a bit under-the-radar is Kyle Allen.

The Washington Football Team are expected to have a three-way battle for their starting quarterback job with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, and Allen all competing with one another.

Fitzpatrick is the odds-on favorite with Heinicke his only realistic competition. Where that leaves Allen, however, is unclear.

Washington could opt to keep all three quarterbacks, but Allen might be able to provide them more value elsewhere. Possibly as part of a trade.

The former undrafted free agent has started 17 games since entering the league in 2018, including 12 starts back in 2019 where he more than held his own.

A favorite of Washington head coach Ron Rivera, Allen was traded to the Football Team for a fifth-round pick last March and went on to start four games for them in 2020.

He took over for a struggling Dwayne Haskins and played well completing 69 percent of his passes and throwing for 610 yards and four touchdowns with just one interception in those four starts.

Kyle Allen is a good player and if Washington is willing to part with him for a Day 3 pick, the Jets should absolutely consider making the move.

2. The NY Jets could trade for Gardner Minshew

Another former unheralded draft prospect who has gotten a raw deal despite pretty solid play is Gardner Minshew.

A sixth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, it didn't take long for Minshew to take over the starting job for the Jacksonville Jaguars. And in two years as their primary starter, he's done well for himself.

In 20 career starts, Minshew has thrown for 37 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions while completing 63 percent of his passes. Despite this, the Jaguars couldn't pass up the opportunity to draft Trevor Lawrence this April.

Lawrence is the guy moving forward, leaving Minshew without a starting job — much to his chagrin. Trade rumors have followed Minshew all offseason, but it seems rather unlikely that he gets the chance to start at this point, even if he is traded.

The Jaguars even signed former San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard as insurance in case Minshew is traded — something that seems likely at this stage.

The Jets wouldn't offer Minshew an opportunity to start, but they could still send a Day 3 pick to Jacksonville and land one of the most talented backup quarterbacks in the NFL.

Perhaps the team could even look to flip him for future draft capital in the offseason too.

The Jets don't necessarily make a ton of sense for Minshew, but Minshew definitely makes sense for the Jets.

1. The NY Jets could trade for Nick Foles

This is the one you've all been waiting for. No remaining backup quarterback option has been connected to the Jets more than Nick Foles.

So much so that it almost seems inevitable that the Jets make a move for Foles sooner rather than later. However, that's the same sentiment that was shared about the likes of Mullens and Hoyer at different points this offseason.

Foles has ties to the Jets front office given that he spent time together with general manager Joe Douglas in Philadelphia. But the reasoning behind these rumors extends well beyond that.

The Jets are one of the few teams with the salary cap flexibility to take on Foles' salary at this stage of the offseason. The former Super Bowl MVP isn't long for Chicago following the additions of Andy Dalton and Justin Fields in the offseason.

With a cap hit of over $6.6 million, the cap-strapped Bears aren't looking to keep him on the roster as their third QB. And his guarantees make it impossible to cut him without a dead cap charge more than twice his 2021 salary.

The Jets make a ton of sense as a landing spot for Foles and he remains likely the team's best option now that Mullens is off the market.

If the Jets are going to trade for any quarterback this summer, put your money on Nick Foles.