With the free agency opening in less than two weeks and the 2021 NFL Draft starting late next month, Joe Douglas and the New York Jets are facing a decision that will determine the franchise’s fate in the near future.
New York holds the second overall choice, providing an opportunity to reshape the organization with true top-notch talent. While it is widely assumed that the Jaguars will take Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence first, the Jets will have their choice of leftover trash, which includes three more highly intriguing quarterbacks: Justin Fields from Ohio, Trey Lance from North Dakota and Zach by BYU Wilson. Thus, Douglas and Co. could pass 2018 on. 3 overall, choose Sam Darnold and start over with a young quarterback. This would allow the franchise, which has just hired a new technician at Robert Saleh, to hit the reset button on the rebuild and give Douglas a five-year window to stock up on talent around a QB in a team-friendly rookie contract. .
This has become the most prominent modern project for building a competitor since the 2011 CBA introduced a novice salary scale that changed the game for team builders. General managers could spend an initial choice on a caller without significant financial repercussions if it failed. In addition, the front offices have realized the benefit of securing a cheap contract in the most important – and most expensive – position in the field. Without paying a lot of money to the quarterback, general managers have been able to spend money in other positions to put the best team in the field. The formula worked well, with eight of the last nine Super Bowls featuring at least one team led by a quarterback playing on their rookie contract. Yes, I am counting on Carson Wentz, who did not participate in the Super Bowl LII due to an injury, but played a key role in his team by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy that season. And sure enough, Cam Newton signed an extension before his Super Bowl season, but the years of extension didn’t start until the next campaign. Same thing with Patrick Mahomes last season. Therefore, the benefits of the cap still existed.
With all this in mind, it’s hard to justify the Jets no taking a quarterback at number 2. So yes, it looks like Darnold is on loan at the Big Apple, and that’s understandable. Of course, he had a bad hand, lackluster talent around the back and underwhelming training. But the elite quarterback game can outperform, or at least show promising signs of the future. Darnold has been disappointing, with a career completion percentage below 60, almost as many interceptions (39) as touchdown passes (45) and an unacceptably low passer rating (78.6). He just hasn’t demonstrated enough to guarantee the franchise’s extended loyalty, especially when his fifth-year option for the 2022 season would cost New York something around $ 25 million.
That’s why I agree with Douglas’s willingness to accept offers for the 23-year-old before the 2021 draft.
“I will take the call if it is made,” said Douglas on Wednesday. “As far as Sam is concerned, as I said, Sam, we think, is a dynamic player in this league with unbelievable talent who really has a chance to really reach his excellent potential in the future. But, as I said before, if calls are made, I will answer them. “