​The New York Jets could stand to add another quarterback to their room. Frankie Vitz of uSTADIUM floated a trade idea on social media: the Jets should offer the Saints a seventh-round pick for Spencer Rattler. His pitch argued that Rattler would be a cheap, low-risk addition under control through 2027, with enough game in him to serve as a capable backup or spot-starter, and he would push the quarterback group in a healthy way if brought aboard.
Rattler, who will turn 26 during the 2026 season, entered the league as the 150th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. He played college football for five years, splitting time between Oklahoma and South Carolina, appearing in 48 games. Across those opportunities, he completed 68.5 percent of his passes, threw for 10,807 yards, and totaled 77 touchdowns to 32 interceptions. There is truth to much of Vitz’s assessment: Rattler is young and inexpensive to retain through 2027. Spotrac lists his base salaries at about $1.07 million for 2026 and $1.19 million for 2027. He has shown flashes of talent, but his NFL track record is a mixed one.
In 16 NFL appearances (14 starts), Rattler has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 2,903 yards, with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Jets’ current quarterback situation remains somewhat unsettled.SI’s Jets beat writer Nick Faria suggested the team is not expected to add a quarterback before training camp, though he acknowledged that anything can change and that the current roster will likely compete. Geno Smith remains the starter, but there are questions surrounding the depth chart behind him, including rookie Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook, and Bailey Zappe.
This potential scenario echoes a similar arc from last summer. The Jets entered camp with a roster that did not immediately feel in need of a kicker upgrade, only to realize early on that a change was prudent. The team quickly added veteran Nick Folk to stabilize kicking. Could history repeat itself with the quarterback room? It’s plausible that the Jets begin camp with the current group and soon decide they could use another arm, prompting an exploratory move in the market.
The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt recently explored top free-agent and trade quarterback options, and he touched on Rattler as a conceivable target. Rosenblatt noted that New Orleans has Tyler Shough and even signed Zach Wilson earlier this offseason. He suggested New Orleans is unlikely to release Rattler, and it’s unclear what the Saints would demand in a trade, but the idea of acquiring a young quarterback with starting experience (14 starts over two years) who still has room to develop is appealing for a team like the Jets.
An intriguing pursuit for New York would be the idea of testing the waters for Rattler, particularly if Smith were to be sidelined or compromised. In such a scenario, adding a player with a relatively low cap hit and upside could offer long-term value while not dramatically altering the team’s financial commitments. It would be a fresh challenge for the Jets’ coaching staff to mold a young quarterback in a scenario where the organization still aims to compete in a loaded AFC. If the Jets spring such a move, it could also generate positive media attention and SEO value by highlighting a proactive approach to strengthening depth at a critical position.
In short, while not a slam dunk for every side, a trade for Spencer Rattler remains a conceivable option for the Jets to consider, especially if the price is right and if the franchise views him as a developmental quarterback who could contribute if called upon.