The New York Jets are at a crossroads as they gear up for the 2025 NFL season, and all eyes are on their quarterback plans. With Aaron Rodgers officially out after a rollercoaster tenure, the team is buzzing about a familiar name: Tyrod Taylor. Signed as a backup in 2024, the veteran QB is now a serious contender to take the reins as the Jets’ starter in Week 1. It’s a move that’s got fans intrigued, analysts talking, and the locker room rallying-here’s why Taylor might just be the guy to kick off 2025.
Taylor, 35, brings a seasoned vibe to the Jets with 58 career starts across seven teams. His two-year, $12 million deal from last offseason keeps him under contract through 2025, with a wallet-friendly $6.8 million cap hit. “Taylor is the early favorite,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic noted, pointing to his popularity among teammates-especially star wideout Garrett Wilson, who’s reportedly a big fan.
After a rocky 2024 where Wilson and Rodgers clashed, Taylor’s locker-room cred could be the glue the Jets need. Plus, his stat line isn’t too shabby: a 65.8% completion rate and a tidy 8-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the last two seasons.
So, why Taylor? For one, the Jets’ options are slim. The 2025 draft isn’t brimming with elite QB prospects-think Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, likely gone before the Jets’ No. 7 pick. Free agency’s no picnic either, with names like Sam Darnold or Justin Fields floating around but hardly screaming “franchise savior.”
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Taylor’s a bridge option who can keep the team competitive while they groom a rookie. “He’s someone who can hold down the fort,” SNY’s Connor Hughes said on Jets Class, praising Taylor’s dual-threat flair-2,275 career rushing yards and a knack for deep shots.
But it’s not all rosy. Durability’s the big question mark-Taylor’s never started a full season, and injuries have nagged him, from a punctured lung with the Chargers to wrist issues with the Giants. If the Jets roll with him, they’ll need a solid backup plan, especially with rookie Jordan Travis still rehabbing a leg injury. Still, Taylor’s ready for the challenge. “My body feels great, my arm feels amazing,” he told Newsweek Sports in February 2025, signaling he’s itching to lead.
