Jets need to see if Christian

Todd Bowles struck the exact right chord Tuesday morning by declaring that the Jets will have an open quarterback competition this spring. Josh McCown, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg will have a fair and equal opportunity to be the team’s Week 1 starter.

It’s the smart move for an organization desperately searching for an answer to the franchise’s most maddening problem. The 37-yearold McCown was a solid addition last week, but the veteran’s greatest value to this rebuilding team will be to provide wisdom to the pair of younger signal callers.

Conventional wisdom suggests McCown will win the starting job this offseason, but Bowles wisely will give Petty and Hackenberg an opportunity to show that they should be atop the depth chart.

“It’s competition,” Bowles said at the annual league meeting in Phoenix.

The three quarterbacks will “alternate reps” before the brain trust reevaluates the situation before training camp, according to the head coach.

Petty is expected to resume throwing after his season-ending surgery on his non-throwing shoulder a few months ago.

Hackenberg remains a mystery. The organization remains cautiously optimistic that new quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates will be able to help the second-year signal caller take an important step forward in his development. Bowles made it clear what he wants to see from the Jets second-round pick that was shelved for his entire rookie campaign: “Progress.”

The Jets want Hackenberg to win this competition.

“His attitude was great last year,” Bowles said. “We just knew we were redshirting him. This year he’ll have a chance to play and there’ll be a pep in his step.”

Hindsight often alters reality. There was a faction on One Jets