No quick-fixes at QB for Gang
Suffering looks to continue for Jets Nation
We kick off the first offseason edition of the Jets Mailbag with burning questions about the never-ending quarterback conundrum, Todd Bowles’ future, draft strategy and the age-old query: When will the suffering finally stop?
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— Eder Calixto @bkEcali What sense does it make for a rebuilding franchise to trade for an expensive old quarterback? Philip Rivers would sooner want to be exiled in Siberia than be traded to the Jets. Not happening.
Why on God’s green earth would the Jets want to trade for Drew Brees, who will turn 38 in a few days. Thirty-eight! Can Brees still play? Sure, but did I mention that he’s 38? His desire to play for the Jets on a 10-point scale: somewhere between a 0.0 and 0.1.
Tony Romo will likely be available, but let’s examine this: Romo is an injuryprone 36-year-old quarterback who has had trouble staying healthy behind the best offensive line in football. What’s the over/ under he’d actually stay healthy before getting hurt behind the Jets’ middling offensive line? One, maybe two quarters?
Sure, there are folks on One Jets Drive who believe that Romo is still a difference maker. In a vacuum, they’re right. He is. But it’s too bad that the NFL’s Bubble Boy actually has to play outside of a vacuum. If they change the rules to two-hand touch, Romo would be a stud.
The Jets would have to give up draftpick compensation and pay Romo, whose deal runs through 2019. He’s scheduled to earn a guaranteed $14 million base salary with a nearly $25 million salary cap charge in 2017.
Will the Jets inquire about Romo this offseason? Probably. Will they pull the trigger on a trade? God, I hope not— for their sakes.
— Jim Fink @JimFink1515 Smith is way too talented to be wasting away on the bench. He played only 35 snaps in four games this season for myriad reasons. First and foremost, he needs to regain full confidence in his surgically repaired knee. When I spoke to Smith a couple weeks ago, it was evident that selfconfidence won’t be an issue. The biggest question is whether the Jets will give him a real chance to prove his worth — and prove them right after making him the 37th overall pick two years ago.
Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan really should maximize snaps for their collection of young receivers. Let’s strip away the B.S.: 2017 will be a rebuilding season. So, it’ll be critical for guys like Robby Anderson, Charone Peake and Smith to get as much playing time as possible. (Quincy Enunwa will obviously be out there too).
Smith told me that he will either train in California or return to Ohio State to work with his former coaches this offseason. It’ll be a vital time for the former second-round pick. I wouldn’t be so quick to give up on him. He has real ability and can make a difference moving forward.
— Peter LoPalo @pjlop94 It’s tempting given the many holes that need to be addressed on this roster, but would Mike Maccagnan pass up a difference maker at No. 6? It’s way too early to know the plan, but picking up an additional thirdrounder, for example, by sliding down a few spots might be a good strategy. It all depends on which players are available at No. 6. And that’s way too early know.
— Barry Allen @Pat_Gonnella11 I got to be honest, it’s slim pickings out there. Does Brian Hoyer, Jay Cutler or Mike Glennon move the needle for you? Heck, Tyrod Taylor looks like Fran Tarkenton compared to some of these signal callers that will be available this offseason.
Jets fans should get used to this reality: There’s no elixir on the market.
The 2017 quarterback class looks mediocre, according to most evaluators that I’ve touched base with in the past month or so. North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, who announced this week that he’s foregoing his senior season, is an intriguing prospect. The buzz in league circles is that the Jets are high on him, but we’re only now beginning the exhaustive evaluation process. There’s a chance that Trubsiky might not even make it to the No. 6 pick.
Clemson’s Deshaun Watson had a national championship game for the ages, but I don’t think he’s worth a Top-10 pick. Same goes for Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer.