The Jets called an audible Tuesday and elected to bring back Josh McCown after the team's top quarterback target Kirk Couins reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with the Vikings.
The Jets agreed to a one-year deal with McCown, who started 13 games for the team last season, according to McCown's agent, Mike McCartney. The deal is worth $10 million, according to a source.
The Jets were hoping to make a free-agent splash this winter and bring in Cousins, who instead will sign a three-year, $84 million deal with the Vikings, according to reports.
Another name that surfaced for the Jets during Tuesday's free-agent frenzy was Teddy Bridgewater, a first-round pick in 2014 by the Vikings. Bridgewater led the Vikings to a 17-11 record after taking over the starting job as a rookie. He then injured his knee and attempted only two passes last season.
In the end, the Jets decided it was easier to bring back McCown, who is familiar with the team's West Coast offense.
"Yeah, it's hard to say, 'Hey I want to go somewhere else,' after you had the best year of your career," McCown said last month. "I like being there and I love the organization and the guys and the locker room. I think it was a good foundation laid, something special, something that can be built."
The Jets own the No. 6 pick of the draft and could select a quarterback. If the Jets had signed Bridgewater, 25, the team may have gone in another direction with the pick because of Bridgewater's age.
McCown tied a career-high with 13 starts, 2,926 passing yards and 18 touchdowns before breaking his left hand on Dec. 10 in a loss to the Broncos. His 94.5 quarterback rating also was above his career average of 80.8.
