New York Jets: Don’t Sign Quarterback Jay Cutler
Beg, plea, fight and pray for the New York Jets not to sign recently released quarterback Jay Cutler in free agency.
Please Mike Maccagnan, don’t do it. Just don’t do it. The New York Jets general manager should do all Jets fans a favor and not sign former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. There is speculation that Gang Green may be interested in the 33-year old signal-caller. That would be a big mistake.
Sure, the 11-year veteran can probably still throw the ball through a wind tunnel. He has one of the strongest arms in the NFL, even as his 34th birthday approaches next month. The Vanderbilt Commodores product has thrown for over 32,000 yards in his career and has 208 touchdown passes on his resume. All very impressive. However, he comes with a lot of baggage as well.
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Cutler was limited to just five games last season after sustaining a season-ending shoulder against the New York Giants on Nov. 20. Playing behind a porous Bears offensive line, Cutler struggled mightily—he completed just 59 percent of his passes while tossing four touchdown passes and five interceptions. His QB rating was a putrid 27.8, the worst mark of his career.
Does that inspire any confidence moving forward among fans of Gang Green? The Jets are rebuilding now and must do so through the draft and by making sound free agent acquisitions. Why deal with a moody, aging quarterback whose best seasons are clearly behind him? A healthy Cutler would give the Jets possibly two or three more victories this coming season. What is the difference though if New York finishes 7-9 with him under center instead of 4-12?
The Jets have to stop this cycle of inserting a band-aid quarterback into the starting lineup (see Ryan Fitzpatrick) and either use their first-round pick in next month’s NFL Draft on a quarterback like Clemson’s Deshaun Watson or Mitch Trubisky of North Carolina.
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If New York decides to go in another direction in the draft, then let the young signal-callers they currently have on their roster battle it out to be the starter in training camp. It’s okay to rebuild – even in New York. Signing Cutler would not make any sense. It’s time for the Jets to build for the future.
Please don’t do it Mike.