Former general manager of Mike Tannenbaum believes Joe Douglas was happy that the Jets finally won their first game last Sunday against the Rams and aware that the victory probably cost him the opportunity to cast Clemson’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
According to Tannenbaum, the intrigue of the Jets’ last two games – and after the months leading up to the 2021 draft – will be whether they will decide to stay with ex-first-round pick Sam Darnold in the position.
Asked earlier this week on The Post’s “Gang’s All Here” podcast what he would do if the Jets ended up with second choice in the draft, Tannenbaum – who served as the team’s GM for seven seasons from 2006-12 – hinted that if he’s not convinced that Darnold is the long-term answer in the quarterback.
“Well, I’m a little disappointed because, since Sam Darnold is in the NFL, he’s had 44 turns. This is the sixth highest number of any quarterback in that period of time, ”said Tannenbaum. “It is difficult to win and be sustainable when your quarterback is turning the tide. I think the next few weeks are important [for him]. “
The Jets would need to lose and have Jacksonville win at least one of their two remaining games against the playoffs Chicago and Indianapolis to regain first place. The Jets also achieved nothing worse than the second choice of the draft, when Cincinnati (3-10-1) defeated Pittsburgh on Monday night.
BYU’s Zach Wilson and Ohio State’s Justin Fields are expected to be in the next group of defenders after Lawrence.
Tannenbaum, who was also Executive VP of Miami Football Operations 2015-18, also mentioned some former NFL starters who now serve as reserve veterans in the league as possible substitutes if the Jets add another quarterback to the draft – also second overall or via down trading.
“I wouldn’t rule out looking at someone like [Las Vegas’] Marcus Mariota or [New Orleans’] Jameis Winston and then looking at the draft too, ”said Tannenbaum. “The problem is that you are not going to get almost the capital of the project that you would have in previous years.
“I think these assessments will be made everywhere, so while you can negotiate with the second choice if you want to keep Sam Darnold, you are not going to get that huge amount of choices.”