With the 2026 NFL offseason now in full swing, the New York Jets and general manager Darren Mougey will look to reshape the entire franchise through free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft.

One of the main talking points amongst the fanbase is the quarterback position heading into next season. Former starter Justin Fields did not live up to the high expectations set upon him last year, and with quarterback Fernando Mendoza projected to be the lone quarterback selected in round one, New York’s options are slim.

However, there is one name that is beginning to gain traction as a potential starting quarterback for next season.

NFL analyst Seth Waldron recently predicted the starting quarterback for all 32 teams in 2026, with the Jets making a surprise trade for former New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler.

“New York certainly could be a landing place for a non-Mendoza rookie quarterback, and it would make sense for the Jets to be in the Willis sweepstakes,” Waldron wrote. “If they want a stable veteran, perhaps the Jets would look at Cousins or Derek Carr, though neither would be the necessary long-term solution. Or New York could contemplate a few trade candidates, with Mac Jones, Tanner McKee and Rattler among them.”

Despite his college career being filled with twists and turns, Rattler would ultimately be selected by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after spending two seasons with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

While New Orleans’ original plan was to have him be the team’s backup quarterback as a rookie, Rattler was quickly pushed into the starting position after quarterback Derek Carr sustained an injury. In his seven games during the 2024 season, the once highly-rated playmaker showed some flashes, throwing for 1,317 passing yards and five touchdowns while completing 57 percent of his attempts.

Unfortunately for Rattler, his future with the struggling franchise would be called into question after the Saints selected quarterback Tyler Shough in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. And despite being named the starter at the beginning of the season, Rattler lost this opportunity thanks to Shough’s terrific play as a rookie.

Now, with how weak this year’s quarterback class is in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets could take a flyer on Rattler in hopes that he shows promise under center. At age 25, Rattler is a young, cheap quarterback who fits the team’s mindset of a rebuild during the 2026 season.

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