New York Jets should pursue Brian Hoyer via free agency
I’ve always been a firm believer that a team will only go as far as its quarterback.
While many believe that defense is what ultimately wins championships, if you don’t have a high quality quarterback under center you won’t win many football games. Take a look at any of the top teams playing in the NFL and the common theme is the most successful ones always have a franchise quarterback running the show.
For the New York Jets, they haven’t had a stable situation at quarterback for the past few years. The time is now to pursue one of the top free agent quarterbacks that might hit the market this year in Brian Hoyer.
While many don’t know what the Cleveland Browns will do with Hoyer or Johnny Manziel come next season, the former would actually thrive on the Jets if he does indeed hit the free-agent market.
Most quarterbacks that fall in this kind of situation tend to always have a chip on their shoulder and perform very well on a new team and offensive system. Hoyer last season showed signs of being the real deal but ultimately looked like he might be on the way out of the Browns due to a late-season meltdown. Truth of the matter is he didn’t have the right support nor the playmakers around him in order to be successful.
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Since the Jets only have Geno Smith and Matt Simms signed heading into next season, they surely can’t head to training camp without another option to make it into a real quarterback competition. Smith isn’t anywhere near ready to be the definitive answer for the Jets since he has much work to do if he wants to be an effective starting quarterback again. Simms is still too rough around the edges and is nothing more than a backup quarterback. Considering that he couldn’t beat out Mark Sanchez or a rookie in Geno Smith at the time a few years ago for the starting spot, there is no reason to believe he’ll do it now.
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Michael Vick is an unrestricted free agent and will most likely end up on another team or even retire depending on what interest he gets when he hits free agency. Hoyer has all the tangibles to be a stable quarterback while also taking Smith under his wing. Considering that new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey will now be developing quarterbacks the real way, he could very well put Smith and Hoyer in the right path towards success. It won’t be easy, but Gailey works with what he has and utilizes players to their strengths. Bringing in a veteran quarterback in Hoyer while he can also develop both Smith and Simms is a much better situation to go into next season with.
Nov 6, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
With new head coach Todd Bowles and new general manager Mike Maccagnan running the show now, they aren’t committed to Smith and believe a real quarterback competition should transpire to rightfully deem a starter based on who gives the Jets the best chances to win. The Jets dropped the ball big-time last year when they dubbed an “open competition” which was comical. Smith received the majority of reps and playing time with first-team starters while Vick didn’t get nearly as many reps. It was a debacle to say the least that most likely won’t happen again this time around.
Hoyer believes he has what it takes to be an effective starter and has the numbers to prove it. He was 10-6 as a starter in two seasons with the Browns in and would be a breathe of fresh air on the Jets. It’ll be a thin market come free agency at quarterback. The Jets need someone that can step in immediately, contribute and be ready to help steer the franchise towards redemption in 2015.
Believe it or not, Hoyer could be a nice surprise for the Jets under the right leadership and developing for next season and beyond.