When the Jacksonville Jaguars acquired Quinn Ewers via trade, they made it clear that Nick Mullens wasn't part of their plans next season. To nobody's surprise, they released him before the final roster cuts.
Of course, players will never be thrilled to get the boot (with a few exceptions), and Mullens may not be enthused about being shown the door. But as a grizzled veteran, he should garner interest in the open market from teams in need of help at the quarterback position.
Of the bunch, one potential destination for Mullens makes more sense than the rest.
The LA Chargers should target Nick Mullens after the Jaguars released him
The Los Angeles Chargers held a competition between Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei in the preseason for the backup job behind Justin Herbert. Lance came out on top, but he doesn't inspire much confidence, as he was inconsistent. Heck, you could even make the case that Uiagalelei could supplant him as the season progresses.
Lance joined the Bolts in 2025 after a one-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys. He was originally the third overall pick in the 2022 draft. However, his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers left much to be desired, and he became expendable once Brock Purdy became the starter.
Even in a backup role, Lance is struggling to find his footing. That's where Nick Mullens comes in. Los Angeles could sign him, and he would probably become QB2 behind Herbert right out of the gate.
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Why the Chargers are the best landing spot for Nick Mullens (but he could have options)
Nick Mullens is an NFL backup and won't be vying for a starting job anytime soon. But that's a pretty good niche to carve out. Although he was no longer needed in Jacksonville, the former Southern Miss Golden Eagle could give a handful of teams insurance at quarterback. The Chargers would make the most sense, but other clubs could set their sights on him.
With Marcus Mariota nursing injuries, the Washington Commanders could take a flyer on Mullens. On the other hand, the Miami Dolphins are no longer a viable destination after they acquired Kyle McCord from the Green Bay Packers. Speaking of the Packers, they could be another option if they're not sold on Tyrod Taylor, who was a mixed bag in the offseason.
It's also worth noting that signing Mullens will be cost-prohibitive (he was set to count $2.5 million against the cap in 2026). That should help him find a new home quickly.
Either way, the demand for viable quarterbacks in the NFL outweighs the supply, so it will probably be a matter of time before Nick Mullens finds a new team in 2026.
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