Five QB targets for the New York Jets, from least to most likely

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh reiterated Sunday he's sticking with Zach Wilson at quarterback. Based on potentially available QBs, New York doesn't have many exciting options as a replacement for the former BYU star. However, it's hard to imagine anyone being worse than Wilson (52.4 % completion percentage, four picks) through three weeks. 

Our list of replacements includes two on the open market and ends with three starters who may be better off with a change of scenery.

5. Carson Wentz, free agent

Wentz may not be much of an improvement over Wilson, but he has a small sample size of success, which is more than can be said about Wilson. Wentz has posted interception rates below two percent four times during his career, but he led the league with 15 interceptions in 2020. In eight games with the Commanders in 2022, he threw nine interceptions, a rate of 3.3 percent. Wilson has a 3.1 percent interception rate for his career (24 starts), so while Wentz at his worst wouldn't be an improvement, his A-game would mean fewer turnovers.

4. Matt Ryan, CBS

Ryan works in the broadcast booth for CBS, but when he signed with the network, he made it clear that he wasn't retired from the league. He was far from his 2016 MVP form last season in Indianapolis, and with New York's offensive line woes, things might be as difficult for Ryan with the Jets as last season with the Colts, who averaged 18.8 points in his 12 starts. Despite his —  and the team's — struggles a year ago, Ryan completed 67 percent of his passes. That kind of production would be a massive boost for New York's offense. 

Ryan said Monday he has  "no interest" in playing now, but perhaps he'll change his mind if he gets assigned to Broncos-Bears in Week 4.

3. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee is 1-2, with one vintage performance from Tannehill in Week 2 and duds in the team's two losses. The Titans have young quarterbacks Malik Willis and Will Levis to experiment with if they trade Tannehill. In New York, he'd reunite with Jets passing game coordinator Todd Downing, who served as Tannehill's offensive coordinator in 2021 when the Titans clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

2. Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders

Like Ryan, the mere fact that Garoppolo completes a high rate of his attempts would be a welcome development for the Jets. He has a turnover problem, however, with a league-leading six interceptions. Jimmy G's career interception rate of 2.6 percent isn't great, but over his past five seasons, he has completed 68.1 percent of his passing attempts.

Saleh was the defensive coordinator in Garoppolo's first four seasons with the 49ers, including the team's run to Super Bowl LIV in 2019. The Raiders have rookie Aidan O'Connell and journeyman Brian Hoyer backing up Garoppolo. They provide little hope, but Las Vegas will be picking a QB high in the 2024 NFL Draft anyway, so a trade of Jimmy G is not outlandish. 

1. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Cousins is on pace to shatter Peyton Manning's season record for passing yards (5,477) and leads the league with nine TD passes. Despite his fabulous start, the Vikings are 0-3, and Minnesota probably will miss the postseason for the third time in four years with Cousins, who's set to be a free agent after the season. With the Vikings nearing a point where they may become sellers, trading Cousins makes sense. If that happens, the Jets are the most logical trade partner.