The New England Patriots won the AFC East this season for the first time since 2019, marking an incredible start to the Mike Vrabel era. They'll be hoping to turn their division title into a habit, but it won't be easy. The Bills have had a down year, the Dolphins have had quarterback issues, and the Jets have a seemingly endless stream of draft picks over the next few seasons.
The Bills and Dolphins are never easy matchups, but the Jets historically have been. Things could change this offseason, however, with the addition of a veteran quarterback.
The Jets opted for Justin Fields this offseason, but he was benched in favor of Tyron Taylor midway through the season. UDFA Brady Cook took Taylor's spot for the home stretch of the season, but hasn't yet shown he can be a capable backup, let alone next season's starter.
The Jets will have two picks in the top 18 of the 2026 draft, and while they will be looking for their quarterback of the future, adding a high-quality stopgap would be a sensible move. Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox suggests the Jets could look to add Kirk Cousins to fill that role, a player who's no doubt better than all three quarterbacks currently on their roster.
The Jets could be a realistic suitor for Kirk Cousins during the 2026 offseason
The New York Jets will miss out on Fernando Mendoza, barring a miracle, but they could be in range to select Oregon's Dante Moore. At the time this article was written, they're slated to have the third pick in the draft, behind the Raiders and Giants. Regardless of whether the Jets select a quarterback in the draft, their 2026 starter cannot be one of their rostered quarterbacks if they expect to compete.
The Falcons' deal with Cousins would make plenty of sense. They've been eliminated from playoff contention for several weeks and will need to make improvements to a team that's slated to have just $5.2 million in cap space. Work in that top contributors like Kyle Pitts and Kaden Elliss are set to be free agents, and Atlanta finds themselves in a bind.
Cousins has far and away the highest cap hit on the team in 2026, accounting for $57.5 million against the cap. Should he be traded, Atlanta would save $32.5 million, immediately boosting Atlanta's capital.
The issue with moving on from Cousins comes through Michael Penix and his ACL tear. It seems likely that he'll be able to return sometime in August based on the traditional nine-month timetable for ACL injuries. Should there be no setbacks before March, it's hard to imagine Cousins and his giant contract won't be available despite Penix's offseason knee surgery.
This season, Cousins has 10 total touchdowns to 4 interceptions, and has thrown for 209.1 yards per game in 7 starts. The Falcons are 4-3 with him at the helm, and they have scored 21.3 points per game. On the contrary, Penix is 3-5 in his eight starts, while the offense scores 20.6 PPG.
Cousins will turn 38 before the beginning of next season, so he's no doubt a short-term fix at the quarterback position. Between his contract and age, it likely wouldn't take much for the Jets to make a move for Cousins. Perhaps a fifth-round pick would send the four-time Pro Bowler to the Big Apple?
The Jets have started three quarterbacks this season and are throwing for a league low 145.8 yards per game. They'll need a complete overhaul at the position, and Cousins could be the perfect stopgap as they try to develop a rookie like Oregon's Moore or Alabama's Ty Simpson.
The Jets can be competitive in a hurry, and for a team with an ascending run game, the Patriots should be concerned. While he may not be Glenn's endgame, the former Michigan State Spartan may be the answer for the Gang Green in 2026.