What’s the Jets’ Plan B if...

Aaron Rodgers will almost certainly be the starting quarterback for the New York Jets in 2023. He has already stated his intention to play for them next season, and the team's senior executives rushed out to speak with Rodgers following his nocturnal retreat.

The only problem is that Rodgers is still under contract with the Green Bay Packers and would have to be dealt to the Jets. And, while every source indicates that this will happen before Week 1, there is still a chance it may not. Rodgers has the most clout, but the Packers don't appear to be in a hurry to strike a deal.

Derek Carr, whom the Jets were assured would be a Hall of Famer in New York, has joined the New Orleans Saints. Jimmy Garoppolo, who previously worked with head coach Robert Saleh with the San Francisco 49ers, has signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. Mike White, who took over for Zach Wilson twice in the previous two seasons, has departed New York for the division foe Miami Dolphins. Low-risk, uninteresting athletes like Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, Baker Mayfield, and Taylor Heinicke all found new homes.

Almost every viable non-Rodgers alternative is off the table, leaving little options if the deal does not go through. If the Jets fail to sign Rodgers, they will be forced to make more difficult decisions about their team's short- and long-term future.

Sign-and-trade for Lamar Jackson

This is the pie-in-the-sky scenario for the Jets, and some might say a better option than Rodgers. Jackson is younger and more dynamic but would require a massive offensive overhaul schematically. Jackson is free to negotiate directly with teams after the Baltimore Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him, but the Ravens could match any deal.

So in this case, New York would have to offer Jackson whatever contract he wanted and pray the Ravens aren’t willing to match it. And then the team would still cough up two first-round picks. It’s a small price to pay for a franchise guy but would likely be more than what the Jets have to give up for Rodgers and cost an exorbitant amount of guaranteed money.

Trade for Ryan Tannehill or Matthew Stafford

Either of these quarterbacks would be a solid backup plan. Neither Ryan Tannehill nor Matthew Stafford is on the same level as Rodgers, but both have tons of experience and a proven track record. Tannehill worked with Jets passing game coordinator Todd Downing with the Tennesee Titans from 2019-2022 and Stafford won a Super Bowl in the Sean McVay offense with the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 season.

Money would be an issue for both, though. Tannehill’s contract comes with a $27 million base salary in 2023, per Over the Cap, while the Rams couldn’t trade Stafford until after June 1 after $57 million of his salary became guaranteed on March 16. Less than what Rodgers would cost, but the skillset is also less, too.

Trade for Kirk Cousins or Jared Goff

This is where things start to get depressing when juxtaposed with the allure of Rodgers. Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff are fine quarterbacks but wouldn’t necessarily turn the Jets into playoff contenders and would still cost a lot of money relative to their production.

Sign Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Teddy Bridgewater or Cam Newton

None of these would inspire much confidence going into 2023. Carson Wentz just left his third team in three seasons after failing with the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders. Matt Ryan will be 38 years old in May and is coming off his worst season in the NFL. Teddy Bridgewater has been inefficient for the past three teams he’s played for. And Cam Newton is attempting a comeback after not playing in 2022 and only playing in eight games in 2021.

Draft a quarterback

If insanity is repeating the same mistake and expecting a different result, this would be it for the Jets. New York has drafted three first-round quarterbacks since 2009, which is tied for the most in the league over that span with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. None made it to a second contract.

Lure Tom Brady out of retirement

Brady already denied one report that he could return to the NFL, but a boatload of money, the bright lights of New York and the chance to play Bill Belichick at least twice next season might be tempting enough. This is an almost impossible option unless Jets owner Woody Johnson is truly desperate, and even then it would be hard to imagine Brady wearing the jersey of the team he dominated during his 20-year reign with the New England Patriots.

Run it back with Zach Wilson and/or Joe Flacco

Never say never, but this would truly be the worst-case scenario for the Jets and likely the team’s Plan Z. There is almost no way the Jets could start Wilson in Week 1 after an offseason where the team and its players publicly fawned over other quarterbacks. Robert Saleh benched Wilson twice in 2022 for a reason — even if general manager Joe Douglas claimed the team still thinks Wilson has a high ceiling. Oh yeah, and Wilson still needs to learn the new system under offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

Rodgers must still be the end goal

Anything short of a Rodgers-Jets marriage would be a major disappointment for New York, and thus trading for the four-time MVP should be the team’s top priority for the quarterback position. While some of the moves listed are adequate fallbacks, none — save for a Hail Mary move for Jackson — would elevate the Jets the way Rodgers would.

Losing out on Rodgers would also deflate the hype surrounding the Jets all offseason. The players sounded excited on social media with the prospect of acquiring Rodgers and the betting markets reflected a team on the rise. Not trading for Rodgers doesn’t mean the Jets can’t make the postseason — they nearly did a year ago — but the idea New York could win a Super Bowl would almost be out of the equation for 2023.