Jets rumors: Preferred pecking order at QB has several shocks

The New York Jets are undeniably in the market for a quarterback this offseason but their reported hierarchy of options is a bit shocking. 

Just turn on about any game that wasn’t the short-lived Mike White Renaissance for the New York Jets from the 2022 season, and you’ll understand why Gang Green figures to be extremely active and perhaps aggressive in the 2023 offseason quarterback market.

We know a lot of the names involved. They figure to be the biggest player for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason if he chooses to return to the field for next year. Moreover, if they opt for free agency, then the biggest name on the market in Jimmy Garoppolo would make a lot of sense for them. And, of course, Derek Carr is undoubtedly an option.

However, Connor Huges of SNY reported on Tuesday that the Jets have a hierarchy. And frankly, the list of four quarterbacks, while expected for the most part, contains some pretty shocking information. The list reportedly goes: Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo and then Ryan Tannehill.

Jets rumors: Ryan Tannehill among options at QB, Lamar Jackson not

Rodgers and Carr are to be expected on that list, as is Garoppolo. However, it’s huge to see Tannehill’s name in that same regard, especially with the pictured note Hughes posted that indicates the Jets are high on Tannehill as backup plan, more than “some would like to believe.”

That’s a big revelation but one that makes sense. Tennessee is in a purgatory-ish space right now with their roster and, as Tannehill carries a hefty cap hit, moving him could be a wise choice to start hitting the reset button, be that with Malik Willis or otherwise. And Tannehill has also proven of winning a lot of NFL games as a starting quarterback if surrounded by a good roster, which the Jets have.

However, the other shocker here is that Lamar Jackson isn’t on that list. Is that because the Jets think the Ravens won’t part with him? Is that because they aren’t interested in that trade?

Truth be told, we don’t know. The Jets were long considered a possible landing spot for Jackson, though, so to see the Baltimore quarterback not on the list raises some eyebrows.

We’re still very early in the offseason, though. The Jets are going to make a splash at quarterback, that much is for certain. Based on this report, though, it does feel safe to say that we might not know everything about that splash that we thought we did.