Do Jets have new plan B at QB with Derek Carr off the board?

The New York Jets won't sign Derek Carr, but may have another plan B in mind if they miss out on Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers.

Shortly after it was learned Monday that Carr was signing with the New Orleans Saints, ESPN NFL insider Dianna Russini tweeted that "many" within the Jets "were pushing for" San Francisco 49ers veteran Jimmy Garoppolo before Carr became the club's backup option after Rodgers. 

Carr and the Saints agreed to a four-year, $150 million contract with $100M in total guarantees. Presumably, Garoppolo will be less expensive than the four-time Pro Bowl selection when the new league year opens on March 15. 

Garoppolo has routinely been linked with the Jets despite the club's reported infatuation with Rodgers. Jimmy G. spent much of last offseason recovering from shoulder surgery before he signed a restructured contract to stay with the 49ers as a backup behind Trey Lance. However, Garoppolo was called into action after Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, and the 31-year-old won six of nine starts before he went down with a broken foot in Week 13. 

Garoppolo ended the 2022 regular season third among qualified players with a 103.0 passer rating, 16th with a 54.3 adjusted QBR and fourth with an average of 7.9 yards per pass attempt. In fewer than 11 games, he tossed 16 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. 

Garoppolo's worrisome injury history will likely impact his price on the open market, but the Jets may like that he can mentor young quarterback Zach Wilson as he helped Lance throughout the past two seasons. Of course, Garoppolo isn't a future Hall of Famer like Rodgers, but the Jets may merely need a reliable veteran at the position to make the playoffs in January.