The Jets hosted free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson for a visit on Monday evening and are considering him as an option to be Geno Smith’s backup quarterback, a team source told The Athletic.
General manager Darren Mougey has been surveying the market for a backup quarterback since the Jets traded for Geno Smith in March. The team had conversations with Wilson, 37, before the NFL Draft, per the source, and scheduled a visit for after the draft to allow the team to focus on their draft process.
As the Jets sorted through potential backup options — which also included Carson Wentz at one point — Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn discussed potential options with Smith. Per the source, Smith mentioned that he enjoyed working with Wilson when they both were with the Seahawks in 2020-21, when Smith backed up Wilson.
No signing is imminent, but there is interest on both sides as the Jets look to add a veteran behind Smith. The Jets selected Clemson’s Cade Klubnik in the fourth round of the draft, and the only other quarterbacks on the roster are Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook.
Mougey said at the owners meetings in March that they would look into adding another quarterback prior to the draft. Here’s what the GM said on Saturday:
“After those comments at the owner’s meetings, we got back and we kind of spoke as a group and talked about it and that landscape really hasn’t moved much,” Mougey said. “And we felt good about that at that time and didn’t anticipate it moving, so it felt like, ‘Ok, let’s go into the draft, let’s see where we come out, we will reconvene, and say ok, now let’s look at the landscape. Let’s look at the picture. Let’s have some good discussions about what we know we have now coming out of the Draft and kind of further evaluate it.’ So, we’ll see in the coming weeks.”
Wilson opened last season as the New York Giants’ starter and threw for 778 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in three games before making way for rookie Jaxson Dart. Wilson crossed paths with Mougey when they were together with the Denver Broncos in 2022-23, when Mougey was Denver’s assistant general manager and Wilson the Broncos’ starting QB.
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