After announcing their plans to cut bait with Aaron Rodgers this offseason, the New York Jets can no longer run from the fact that they’ll need a new starting quarterback in 2025. Right now, that job belongs to Tyrod Taylor by default, but moving forward with a soon-to-be 36-year-old isn’t a situation that resembles a Super Bowl contender or anything close.
In other words, the Jets will be adding another starter with a higher ceiling than Taylor this offseason, it’s only a matter of who. Could they even land a multi-time Pro Bowler?
Related: New York Jets players rank Woody Johnson as the NFL’s worst owner
New York Jets predicted to add Derek Carr
After finishing with a 5-12 record, the New York Jets earned the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Yet, that might not be good enough to secure one of the two quarterbacks widely projected to be first-round picks.
Knowing the top-tier QB talent is a bit light in this year’s draft class, the Jets could feel like they have to find a veteran upgrade before the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off.
Recently, ESPN’s Seth Walder outlined a scenario that predicts the Jets to end up with New Orleans Saints four-time Pro Bowl QB Derek Carr.
“In this scenario, the Jets pick Carr up off the Saints’ discard pile. It’s hard to know what the new Jets regime will be looking for after moving on from Aaron Rodgers, but new coach Aaron Glenn saw the Lions win with an unwanted Jared Goff. Carr doesn’t have Goff’s upside, but he would raise the Jets’ floor. And as poorly as recent seasons have gone, New York has the players to launch a quicker turnaround than one might think.”
ESPN on New York Jets landing Derek Carr
Carr has a $51.4 million cap hit in 2025, which is a big reason why the Saints could potentially move on from their starter, especially since they have the worst salary cap situation in the NFL. Yet, with the Saints looking to cut costs, the Jets could swoop in and find their quarterback for the next two seasons until Carr’s contract expires after the 2026 season.
Related: New York Jets front office reportedly likes this NFL Draft QB prospect ‘a lot’
