While one may argue that cutting ties with Aaron Rodgers was a good move by the New York Jets, replacing him with Justin Fields turned out to be a disaster. The team struggled all season, finishing 3–14 despite moving to Tyrod Taylor, and now finds itself in line for the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Jets also hold the No. 16 pick, but that may not be enough to secure a franchise quarterback, especially with Fernando Mendoza emerging as the only viable option after Dante Moore opted to return to school. As a result, one NFL analyst predicts the Jets could turn to free agency to sign a promising young signal-caller.
With No Clear QB at No. 2, Jets May Pivot From Draft to Free Agency
Among the quarterbacks in the upcoming draft, only Mendoza stands out, but he is expected to land with the Las Vegas Raiders, who hold the No. 1 overall pick.
Ty Simpson lacks both experience and the decisiveness Moore showed, fueling speculation that the Jets, who fielded the fourth-worst offense per PFSN’s NFL Offensive Impact Metric, may turn to free agency to solve their quarterback problem.
While free agent QBs are often past their prime, this year presents a promising option in Malik Willis, and PFSN analyst Ryan Guthrie believes he could be on New York’s radar.
“The Jets may try this again. With no clear quarterback at No. 2 overall and Dante Moore returning to school, Malik Willis becomes an intriguing option. He flashed in limited action, filling in for Jordan Love. The talent is there; whether the Jets can develop him is the real question,” Guthrie wrote.
Willis lit up the stat sheet at Liberty with his electric arm and dual-threat abilities, and was drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. He appeared in eight games as a rookie, including three starts. Willis struggled, as did the Titans that year, completing about 50% of his passes and throwing three interceptions without recording any touchdowns.
He stayed in Tennessee for 2023 and played in just three games before signing with the Packers in 2024. Willis backed up quarterback Jordan Love and did so very well. When Love went down in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, Willis stepped in.
He led the Packers to two consecutive wins and played in seven games last year. Now, in 2025, he’s only added to that with four more games, including one start against the Baltimore Ravens, where he threw for 288 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 60 yards and two scores on the ground.
Although Willis has played in only six NFL games, the 26-year-old has shown mobility, arm strength, and the ability to make plays under pressure. If Jets head coach Aaron Glenn believes in him, Willis could be New York’s best option at quarterback for 2026. And if it doesn’t work out, the Jets can still turn to Moore in next year’s draft.
You gotta spell the #1 pick in the draft’s name right. It’s Mendoza not Mondoza. Proofread.