Rex Ryan ‘really likes’ Tajh Boyd
Tajh Boyd speaks at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets don’t have full confidence in Geno Smith going into his second season in the league, but the formerly top-rated QB in the 2013 NFL Draft class will get a chance to make more strides next year. Smith started the season with plenty of mistakes and turnovers, but he did a good job of never losing confidence and became more poised as the season continued. A good scrambler, Smith could be the answer if he can cut down on his mistakes, and the key thing is learning when to take shots and how to use timing and anticipation to hit short and intermediate routes before the play muddles.
Since the Jets don’t have 100% confidence in Smith at this point in time, they were wise to bring in talented-but-oft-injured veteran signal-caller Michael Vick this offseason. Vick is a quality starting quarterback when healthy, and he and Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg share a strong connection that goes back to their days together with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Draft insider Tony Pauline reports that not only did the Jets recently send their quarterbacks coach to Clemson to work out Tajh Boyd, but head coach Rex Ryan “really likes” the projected late-round passer. The Jets could bring Boyd in as their third-string quarterback, and I wouldn’t be opposed to the move. It sounds like the Jets organization as a whole is high on Boyd, who has issues with accuracy, decision-making, read progressions, and mechanics but is a solid scrambler with a good downfield arm and plenty of coachability. I’m not a fan of Boyd and have him slapped with a seventh-round grade, but I could see him being a decent pick for the Jets late on the final day of the draft. Since they have three compensatory sixth-round picks, it makes plenty of sense for the Jets to take a flier on him then, especially since Ryan and the organization like him.