Club hopes to end search for franchise QB with No. 2 pick
NEW YORK — The New York Jets have been here before — too many times. For decades.
They head into the NFL draft needing a quarterback, hoping to find the face of the franchise who can develop into a star and lead them to sustained success.
The focus is now on “the next one” — and that will come in the form of the No. 2 pick on Thursday night. The overwhelming favorite to hear his name called then is BYU’s Zach Wilson. Ohio State’s Justin Fields also remains a slight possibility.
“I don’t look at it from a legacy viewpoint,” said general manager Joe Douglas, on the verge of making what will likely be a career-defining choice. “I feel like every decision we make has risk. Obviously the pick at No. 2, there’s a huge spotlight on that and we understand that with every decision, you try to take the information you have at hand to make the best possible decision that you can for the team moving forward.”
New York has been searching for someone who can finally emerge from the massive shadow of Joe Namath, whose impact on the Jets and the league will likely never be truly surpassed.
But a few generations of frustrated fans have been waiting to feel like champions again since Broadway Joe delivered on his guarantee and won the team’s only Super Bowl appearance in 1969.
That’s, well, a long time ago.
Since Namath’s final game with the Jets in 1976, there have been 34 players to start under center for the franchise. Several of them were high draft picks with huge hopes and expectations: Richard Todd, Ken O’Brien, Chad Pennington, Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith and Sam Darnold.
The Jets thought they got it right with Darnold, the No. 3 pick just three years ago. And for various reasons, they were left disappointed. Douglas, who wasn’t on the job when New York made that pick, shipped Darnold to Carolina on April 5 for a sixth-rounder this year and second- and fourth-rounders next year.
Douglas pressed reset on the franchise and he’ll be tied to whomever he selects at No. 2. And Jets fans will keep their fingers crossed — as always.
It seems a sure thing the Jets will take the big-armed Wilson. The fact Douglas, new coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur were all at BYU to watch him in person at his pro day seemed to seal that sentiment.
After the Jets make their first pick, there will still be plenty of intrigue around their next selection at No. 23, which they got from Seattle in the Jamal Adams trade. If they stay at that spot. If they go cornerback, Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley, Northwestern’s Greg Newsome II or Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr. could be the guy. But with offensive line also high on the list of needs, a solid choice would be USC tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker, who could slide to guard in the NFL.