Why the Jaguars Need a New Backup Quarterback Entering 2026
Injuries to the quarterback position in the NFL have been a growing concern within the last decade. Numerous starters get injured every season, and without a solid backup quarterback, it can change the trajectory of an entire franchise. In Jacksonville, former Pro Bowl quarterback Trevor Lawrence has played most of his games and avoided serious injury to this point, aside from a season-ending concussion in 2024 against the Houston Texans. However, as Lawrence approaches 27 this season, injuries are a possibility. The problem in Jacksonville isn’t Lawrence himself, but the lack of a quarterback behind him.
Currently, the Jaguars have veteran Nick Mullens as the second-string in training camp. The former San Francisco 49er has started in 20 games and appeared in 38 games throughout his NFL career. He’s racked up 6,448 passing yards with 34 touchdowns to 31 interceptions. However, the 31-year-old hasn’t started a game since 2023 and hasn’t won a start since 2020, meaning the odds he could perform if needed in Jacksonville are slim to none. General manager James Gladstone also signed Carter Bradley, the son of current Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator and former Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley, and undrafted free agent Joey Aguilar to compete in the quarterback room. While Aguilar could very well become the core backup in the future with the right development, he is nowhere close to starting right away if Lawrence goes down.
There are a few names currently on the market that could offer some help to Duval County if anything drastic happens to the face of the franchise. Titans backup Will Levis is a name to watch out for, especially since his best days at Kentucky were with Jaguars head coach Liam Coen as his offensive coordinator in 2021. Despite lacking the experience of a guy like Mullens, the 26-year-old has played in the ever-changing NFL landscape more recently, and with obvious ties to the Jaguars' offensive scheme, he could fit right in if needed. New Orleans Saints backup Spencer Rattler is another potential option at only 25 years old. Despite going 1-13 as a starter, Rattler has shown flashes of greatness in his short career up to this point, throwing for 2,903 yards with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. At almost five years younger than Mullens, Rattler could provide youth to the backup position with unmatched potential that Gladstone shouldn’t avoid trying to get.
