The Jacksonville Jaguars took care of business in the preseason opener, coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 24-20. Aside from the resilience the team showed throughout the game, there were several things to like. On the other hand, a glaring hole was exposed: Their depth at quarterback leaves much to be desired.
Nick Mullen was underwhelming, going 3-of-7 for 33 yards. Cartley Bradley got off to a slow start but played much better as the contest progressed. Then again, context matters. Bradley went against New Orleans' third and fourth-stringers, and there's a chance he would've struggled as well if he had gone against the starters.
Now, the Jags will be in good shape as long as Trevor Lawrence stays healthy. However, they could be in trouble if Mullens gets extended playing time. The good news is that general manager James Gladstone still has time to make upgrades at quarterback before the regular season starts, and he shouldn't hesitate to trade for one of the signal-callers below.
5 quarterbacks the Jaguars could trade for to bolster the depth behind Trevor Lawrence
Zach Wilson, New Orleans Saints
The Jaguars just played the Saints and had a glimpse of Zach Wilson. Once seen as a potential franchise quarterback, the former BYU Cougar flopped with the New York Jets. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2025 and is looking to keep his NFL career going in The Big Easy.
The issue is that Wilson is competing for a roster spot and would need to beat Spencer Rattler for the primary backup job behind Tyler Shough. The second overall pick in the 2021 draft flashed enough in the preseason opener to make you think that he'll pull it off, but there's a chance he'll ultimately get the boot. Either way, the Jaguars should give the Saints a call.
Gardner Minshew, Arizona Cardinals
Why not take a flyer on a familiar face? Gardner Minshew shook up the NFL as a rookie but strugged to sustain momentum the following year. By 2021, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles to pave the way for Trevor Lawrence.
Since then, Minshew has played for the Las Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs. He signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2026 to compete for a starting job, but Carson Beck is the future, and Jacoby Brissett will most likely start or be the primary backup next season after adjusting his contract.
That leaves Minshew as the odd man out in the desert. Unless the Cards want to keep three quarterbacks, they may be open to moving him. The Jags should definitely see if that will be the case.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
Back in 2023, Will Levi was projected to go in the first round but ultimately slid to the second. He had ample opportunities to show that he was the quarterback of the future before the Tennessee Titans pulled the plug on him.
When the Titans drafted Cam Ward in 2025, they confirmed the writing was on the wall for Levis. With Mitch Trubisky expected to be QB2 next season, Levis no longer figures in Tennessee's plans, so it would make sense to trade him, even if he can only fetch a seventh-rounder.
Jacksonville would make sense because Levis could enjoy a fresh start under Liam Coen, who coached him at Kentucky. In fact, he had a banner season with Coen as his offensive coordinator at Kentucky. Maybe Coen can get his NFL career back on track.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
With Daniel Jones entrenched as the starter, Anthony Richardson is on borrowed time with the Indianapolis Colts. Once a promising talent, injuries and inconsistency have plagued the former Florida Gator the past three seasons. He requested a trade early in 2025 but ultimately stayed in Indy.
If Richardson still wants to bolt the Colts, the Jaguars should facilitate a trade. He showed in the preseason opener that he's still unpolished at this stage of his career, meaning that he's got his work cut out to be a capable backup.
On the other hand, trading for Richardson could turn out to be a low-risk, high-reward kind of move. The fourth-year quarterback would be the perfect reclamation project for Coen.
Jameis Winston, New York Giants
Of the five quarterbacks on this list, James Winston may be the most difficult to acquire, but he's got the best track record. The first overall pick in 2015, the former Florida State Seminole could keep the team afloat if Trevor Lawrence missed time. Sure, he has a penchant for turning the ball over, but that's because he's not afraid to take shots.
Either way, Winston would be a fine backup in Duval. The only trouble is that the New York Giants seem to like him a lot. Coupled with Jaxson Dart's propensity to get hurt, Jacksonville might have trouble trading for him if interested.
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