While the official start of free agent signings does not begin until 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, the Jets have watched just about everyone else make swift moves to sign players, trade players and move picks in the days leading up to the opening of free agency. And thus far the Jets look like a team left with nothing, because, simply they have done nothing.
Yes, the Jets wanted Kirk Cousins, and were willing to pay, but Cousins wanted to be a Viking. The Vikings offer him a better chance to win than the Jets do, and even guaranteed all three years of his contract. That is $84 million in guaranteed money. In today's NFL where careers are short and an injury can wreck a career at any moment, his contract could set a precedent for players to follow who are willing to bet on themselves and have collateral doing it.
Once the Vikings entered the Cousins sweepstakes, it was pretty obvious the Jets were not going to end up with him.
What really has to bother fans, however, is the Jets virtual inactivity the past 48 hours. They were linked to former Jaguars receiver Allen Robinson. He signed with the Bears. They were believed to have interest in former Giants center Weston Richburg, but he signed a long-term deal with the 49ers.
Quarterback Case Keenum? Signed with the Broncos. How about Sam Bradford (a.k.a Mr. Disabled List)? Signed with the Cardinals.
Oh, and the Buffalo Bills made a huge trade up in the draft to possibly position themselves to leapfrog the Jets for one of the coveted college quarterbacks in the NFL draft next month.
In short this has been a nightmare 48 hours for Jets GM Mike Maccagnan and Head Coach Todd Bowles.
They were expected to be big spenders (and may still be), but have shown little life while everyone else is gobbling up contracts like its going out of style.
Rumors are the Jets might have to settle for Josh McCown, the 39-year old journeyman quarterback who was decent for the Jets last season before getting suffering a season-ending injury in a 23-0 loss to Denver last December.The Jets could also sign former Viking, Teddy Bridgewater, who has not started an NFL in game in almost three years, and has spent the past two years rehabbing from a horrifying knee injury. Who knows if Bridgewater can still play at an elite starting quarterback level?
Rumors are the Jets are in negotiations with Bridgewater and a deal could be imminent.
Even when he was healthy, Bridgewater was never a great quarterback -- he was just ok, mediocre at best. His small size, 6-foot-2, and little arm power is not something that is going to help this team long term. He has never thrown for more than 14 touchdowns in a season, and has turned the ball over 30 times in just 28 games.
He is not a long term option, and is not going to solve what has become an epidemic mess at the quarterback position for the Jets.
Some even think the Jets should or will sign both McCown and Bridgewater -- which will be a clear indication that the Jets have no idea of what they are doing.
In sum, the pressure is now ratcheted up on Maccagnan and Bowles to draft a quarterback, the right quarterback, next month. Every NFL scout believes that Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield have "star" quality. We'll see. There is a chance that the Jets could get one of them. There is also a chance that the Jets may be left with nothing much like they are in free agency at the moment.
Let's also remember that this is the same head coach/GM tandem that selected Christian Hackenberg in the second round of the 2016 draft. This is also the same tandem that selected Bryce Petty in the third round in 2015. Neither quarterback has done anything significant, as the coaching staff has taken plenty of hits for not developing either player properly.
Can Bowles and his staff be trusted with someone line a Baker Mayfield, who would come to New York with questions about his off-the-field behavior? Can they mold a Josh Allen, who many wonder if he'll ever be an accurate quarterback?
There are legitimate concerns here for the Jets. The Jets failed in the early stages of free agency. The pressure is on for Maccagnan and Bowles to get it right as quickly as possible.
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