Jets could go after surprising fallback option if they miss on Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr

Perhaps New York Giants legend Tiki Barber knew more than he hinted when he linked Big Blue quarterback Daniel Jones with the New York Jets last week. 

On Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote that the Jets are "exploring everything" as it pertains to an upgrade at the sport's most important position. Interestingly, Breer said that "luring Daniel Jones from across town" is on the table for the Jets if they miss out on Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers and free-agent Derek Carr. 

Breer did say that "it seems clear that Rodgers (under the right circumstances) would be (the Jets') first choice," but the future Hall of Famer hasn't publicly announced his intentions for 2023 following his four-day "darkness retreat."

Barber generated a ton of buzz when he said during last Tuesday's edition of the "Tiki and Tierney" WFAN program that he felt Jones is "more valuable" to the Jets than to the Giants. General manager Joe Schoen wasn't with the Giants when they used a first-round draft pick to acquire Jones in 2019, and Schoen declined the fifth-year option of Jones' rookie contract last spring. 

More recently, Jones changed agents amid multiple reports claiming the 25-year-old's camp is looking to get around $45 million per season on the QB's second pro deal. As Gregg Rosenthal noted for the NFL's website, using the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain Jones' rights for 2023 would cost the Giants roughly $32.4 million and allow the signal-caller to sign an offer sheet with a different club. That team would have to send two first-round picks to the Giants if they didn't match the offer sheet. 

The Giants have until the March 7 deadline to use their franchise tag on Jones. In his latest "Football Morning in America" column, NBC Sports' Peter King wrote that he'd use the tag on Jones and wish him "good luck finding" a team to pay him $45 million per year.

"And if a team wants to give me high draft compensation for him, I’m taking it and moving on," King continued. 

It's unclear if the Jets would sacrifice valuable draft assets and match Jones' asking price to replace Zach Wilson atop their depth chart with a QB who has plenty of experience playing at MetLife Stadium.