The New York Jets wasted three valuable picks on quarterbacks over the last four drafts, and still had to go find a new quarterback for 2017.
The Jets landed on veteran Josh McCown, who will be 38 for Week 1. They signed him to a one-year deal for $6 million according to multiple reports. At this point the only thing that might save the Jets’ quarterback situation over the long haul is getting the first pick of the 2018 draft and picking USC’s Sam Darnold, and settling for McCown this season could get them closer to that.
The Jets picked Geno Smith in the second round in 2013, and they decided to give McCown $6 million fully guaranteed rather than pay Smith more than the $2 million he got from the New York Giants. The Jets have also drafted Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, and either could still win the starting spot, but the Jets probably hoped they could depend on one of them by now to start.
The Jets signing McCown is meaningful in the game of free-agent quarterback musical chairs. The Jets were supposed to meet with Jay Cutler this week but signed McCown instead, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s hard to find a logical landing spot for Cutler or other veterans like Colin Kaepernick and Chase Daniel. Most teams have some semblance of a plan at quarterback for this season, assuming Tony Romo eventually ends up with the Houston Texans.
McCown, who was with the Cleveland Browns the past two seasons and struggled with injuries in 2016, is a competent option. But with the rest of the Jets’ issues, it’s doubtful he’ll carry them to playoff contention. Maybe the best thing for the Jets would be to bottom out this season, draft a quarterback with an early pick (and get it right this time) and have some hope for the future. Either way, this season isn’t looking too promising.
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