Ranking the top 12 free agent QBs the NY Jets can sign in 2023

12. The NY Jets can sign C.J. Beathard

Let's begin our actual list with the backup tier. These are the players who the Jets should only consider as backups to whoever they target as their starter in 2023. One player who makes sense is C.J. Beathard.

Beathard has spent the last two seasons serving as Trevor Lawrence's backup in Jacksonville. You could probably find a better backup than Beathard, although his experience with Robert Saleh in San Francisco could help him land in New York.

Beathard probably made more sense if the Jets stuck with Mike LaFleur. With Nathaniel Hackett now the offensive coordinator, and with one less connection for Beathard in Florham Park, I'd prefer to see the Jets look elsewhere.

The same goes for fellow former 49ers backup Nick Mullens. The Jets can do better than both.

11. The NY Jets can sign Case Keenum

Case Keenum would be a pretty appealing veteran backup quarterback for the Jets. The 10-year NFL veteran spent last season backing up Josh Allen in Buffalo, and although the Bills might like to bring him back, I wouldn't be surprised if the Jets were interested.

Keenum has started 64 career games and nearly led the Minnesota Vikings to the Super Bowl a few years back. He's an experienced, quality backup and a well-liked locker-room presence — everything you look for in a veteran backup.

10. The NY Jets can sign Teddy Bridgewater

Another quarterback in that high-end backup territory is Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater's days as a starter with Minnesota and later Carolina and Denver appear to be behind him, but he's proven to be an above-average backup QB.

Bridgewater started a pair of games for the Miami Dolphins last season and spent the two prior years as the starting QB with the Panthers and Broncos. He makes sense if the Jets are looking for a top-end backup quarterback.