The New York Jets might have to dust off an old pair of tires to find their next quarterback.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic named two-time Super Bowl champion backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as a potential free agent option for the Jets to consider this offseason.
Garoppolo has been with the Los Angeles Rams for the last two years.
Garoppolo Hasn’t Been a Starter for a Hot Minute
Garoppolo, 34, has been a backup quarterback for over half of his NFL career.
He entered the league as the No. 62 overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. Garoppolo got two Super Bowl rings while holding a clipboard for the New England Patriots and backing up Tom Brady.
In 2017, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. That six-year run was the highlight of Garoppolo’s time in the NFL.
He went to a Super Bowl and was minutes away from knocking off Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Garoppolo eventually shook free to the open market and signed a three-year $72.75 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Long story short, the tenure was an epic disaster, and Garoppolo was eventually benched and then released a year later.
That takes us to present-day Garoppolo on the Rams. He is on a one-year $3.05 million contract fully guaranteed, and he is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Taking a Look at the Numbers
Garoppolo has been in the NFL for 12 years. During that stretch, he has appeared in 84 games and has made 64 starts. With those opportunities, Garoppolo has completed 67.4% of his passes, has thrown for 15,828 passing yards, and has a 96 touchdown to 52 interception ratio.
If the Jets added Garoppolo, he shouldn’t be the only option at QB on the roster.
However, he could bring some stability to the room. If the Jets decide to draft a rookie quarterback in 2026, they should strongly consider taking a patient approach.
Most of the young passers the Jets have drafted have been forced to play before they’re ready. When you look across the league, there are success stories with rookies jumping into the fire immediately. However, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
After zigging forever, it might be time for the Jets to zag.
They should take a quarterback in the draft, wherever that may be, and then put him on the bench so he can learn. I haven’t ever heard someone say ‘Oh wow, that young quarterback got too much time on the bench to marinate and prepare for the big leagues.’
While that is going on behind the scenes, you plug a Garoppolo into the starting lineup and try to win some games. Garoppolo hasn’t been the picture of health in his career. Only one time has he ever started a full season, and not coincidentally, that is the year he went to the Super Bowl as a starting QB (2019).
So the Jets better double down on their veteran quarterback investment in free agency. Insulate the position with another veteran arm in the bullpen to ensure you don’t have to go to the rookie before he is ready.
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