Jets Insider: Organization needs to finally find a legitimate quarterback

 BALTIMORE

The calendar still says November and we’re already talking about who the Jets’ quarterback will be in 2026. One of these days, or years, the club’s decision-makers will get it right.

Maybe it will be this regime of general manager  Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn. They deserve another chance even though they didn’t hit it out of the park with their first choice.

Glenn, a first-time head coach, wanted Justin Fields to lead this offense. The Jets, confident that they could bring out the untapped potential in Fields and develop him into a complete quarterback, gave him a two-year deal with $30 million guaranteed.

It was a risk worth taking. There’s been no reward, though.

 Glenn finally benched Fields this week,  but  the Jets didn’t replace him with a young player who could have a future. Tyrod Taylor, 36, will lead the Jets in Sunday’s game against the Ravens.

Taylor is not the answer. Neither is Fields. Undrafted rookie Brady Cook probably isn’t either. Glenn said Cook is “still developing” and will remain on the practice squad.

The Jets’ Week 1 quarterback in 2026 might not be on the roster. When Glenn was asked about Fields’ future with the Jets, he answered, “That’s a ways down the road, man. We’re trying to get ready to win a game.” Not a resounding yes.

Releasing Fields would put $22 million in dead money on their cap next year. They already have $35 million from Aaron Rodgers’ release.

No one is ruling out Fields’ returning — to the field this season or to the Jets next year. Many times, it looked as if Zach Wilson had thrown his last pass as a Jet during his three years with them, but they kept going back to him.

The Jets have to stop the never-ending revolving door at quarterback. Since their last playoff game in 2011, 17 different quarterbacks have started and 20 have played for them. Both could increase by one if Cook gets a shot in the final six weeks.

With two first-round picks in 2026 — theirs and Indianapolis’ from the Sauce Gardner trade — and three more in 2027, the Jets have every opportunity to get out of the quarterback hell they’ve been in for so long.

Their 2026 pick could be in the top five and should be used on a quarterback — whether it’s Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore or Alabama’s Ty Simpson.

It doesn’t mean they should come in and start. The Jets need to create a competition and have a veteran who can play the position and mentor whichever young quarterback is on the roster.

Do it right. It didn’t work with Wilson. Let the kid sit, watch, learn and develop.

The Jets have the assets to trade for a quarterback. Mac Jones has played well for the 49ers and could be in demand. Jacoby Brissett, Kyler Murray and Davis Mills could be available, too.

The free-agent class isn’t great: Daniel Jones leads it and one would expect the Colts to re-sign him. Other possibilities include Marcus Mariota, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mitch Trubisky and Gardner Minshew.

These are short-term solutions until the Jets finally get their guy. It has to happen one of these days, or years.

Let Brady cook

Fields is the backup quarterback.  Cook’s time to play could come later in the year, but the Jets are not ready to give the Missouri product the football just yet.

“There’s been a plan for him from the very beginning,” Glenn said. “I wanted to make sure we do what’s right for him. Who knows, we’ll see what happens as the season progresses. I’m not promising anything, but he knows exactly what his role is.”

Quincy's loud response

Linebacker    Quincy Williams  has had two of his best games this season since being demoted — temporarily — because of a lack of production.

Williams, who is starting again, had 16 tackles, three for loss, and a sack in the two games. He had a sack wiped away by a hold in the secondary vs. New England.

“It’s just really testament to him and who he is as a person,” defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “We know what kind of player we have in him. He has responded well, making plays for us.”

Wilks said he has “to do a much better job” of putting Williams in position to make plays with the “unique skill set that he has.” The Jets expect him to play a big role in slowing Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Ravens’ running game.

“He stepped up the last couple of weeks,” Wilks said. “We’re looking for a great performance from him this week as well.”

Back in Baltimore

Taylor was a Ravens sixth-round pick in 2011. They already had Joe Flacco, and some in the organization thought Taylor could be converted to wide receiver. Taylor said he “fought that” and “stood firm” that he is a quarterback.

“Fifteen years later, I’m still proving it,” Taylor said. “I welcome those challenges.”

Back in Baltimore II

Cornerback Brandon Stephens  spent his first four seasons with Baltimore before the Jets gave him a three-year, $36 million deal. Stephens said this game means something to him, but he doesn’t want to make too much of it. “It’s going to be awesome,” he said. “These are the games that you dream of. We’ll be ready for it.”

Wilks said, “I’m sure he’s going to be excited about this week.”

Stephens’ play has improved after a slow start. He and others in the defensive backfield are looking to bounce back from a rough game against the Patriots.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.