Jets thrilled with ‘Plan B’ at QB

ORLANDO - The Jets might have absorbed some soul-bruising blows by getting spurned by prized free-agent Kirk Cousins, but Gang Green's new big bossman is pretty stoked by the alternative path.

Although Jets CEO and Chairman Christopher Johnson admitted Sunday that he “absolutely” was disappointed not to land Cousins, he was quick to reveal his astronomic level of faith in what the team's brain-trust has in store for every frustrated green-and-white clad diehard praying for a franchise quarterback this offseason.

“We moved very quickly to Plan B,” Johnson said at the annual NFL meetings. “It’s almost a shame to call it Plan B, because it’s shaping up as something pretty magnificent. I’m pretty excited about it. We did so swiftly. It doesn't hurt it all that we now have an awful lot of money that we were thinking we might be sending out the door to one player. Now (we) have that back with us and we can spread that out over a lot of other players over the next few years.” There's no reason to sugarcoat it: The Jets were ticked off for losing out on Cousins despite being the highest bidder, according to sources. The Daily News reported that Gang Green offered $30 million per season, or $6 million more than the Vikings, over three years. Team brass quickly pivoted to their second option that included signing Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater to one-year deals and making an aggressive play to move up in the draft. Johnson said that trade talks “went into high gear as it became apparent that we were not going to go with Plan A.” The News reported that the Jets laid the groundwork for a possible trade during the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, in January before ultimately dealing three secondround picks (including two this season) to the Colts to move up to No. 3 in the draft.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Johnson said. “I am thrilled that we have that much more ability to control our destiny here. I think it’s really a positive. … I am 100 percent sure having talked with Mike (Maccagnan) and with (VP of Player Personnel) Brian Heimerdinger and with coaches that we are going to do something special with that No. 3 spot.”

Johnson has hit all the right notes since taking over for brother Woody, who became the new UK Ambassador for the Trump Administration last year. “Speaking as a fan, which I am first, I think this is a really exciting time in the history of the Jets,” Christopher Johnson said.

It's a seminal moment in the history of the Johnson & Johnson ownership regime. The Jets, frankly, must get this quarterback decision right to have any hope of sustainable success in the foreseeable future.

“I heard that a lot out in the parking lot before the games,” Johnson said of fans’ imploring him to find a quarterback. “That’s a big concern. A huge concern. And rightfully so. It’s been a while since they could go, ‘Wow! We got the quarterback.’ ”

The News reported that Johnson steered clear of attending any private workout sessions with the top quarterbacks in this draft class (Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield) partly due to scheduling barriers, but the CEO made it clear that he will take part in meeting draft prospects when they visit the team facility in the coming weeks.

Christopher has kept his brother in the loop on important matters, but Woody won’t necessarily have to be consulted on any quarterback-related decisions in the next month.

“I talk with him all the time,” Christopher Johnson said. “We definitely have been talking football lately a little bit. But he’s happy, I hope, with the decisions being mine. He’s been happy with how things have gone (and) the decisions that have already been made. He just keeps saying, ‘You’re doing a great job.’ ”

Everyone else will be saying that too if the Jets draft the right quarterback.