Who do the New York Jets start at quarterback? Is the decision made to win this season or to lose? Intrigue abounds as we break down the battle in New York.
With OTAs and minicamp out of the way, the preseason is officially in full swing. And as such, that means that teams are trying to figure out their depth charts and so on. Meanwhile, fans are trying to figure out what the stories and key figures are going to be for 2017.
Related Story: San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Battle Breakdown
We debated quarterback battles in Cleveland, Chicago, Denver, Houston, and San Francisco, as well as Cincinnati‘s running back battle. Now we turn to the New York Jets, where intrigue abounds. Who do the Jets start at quarterback? Is the decision made to win this season or to lose?
Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss the New York Jets in today’s NFL Sports Debate.
New York Jets QB Contenders
Josh McCown
Bryce Petty
Christian Hackenberg
Details
Todd Salem: The New York Jets have three legitimate options to play quarterback in 2017. The problem is that we don’t know if the organization wants to win the games it plays in, or lose them. Based on the other roster moves this offseason, it certainly seems like New York is aiming to lose a bunch and grab the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
That doesn’t mean the team will forgo the opportunity to see what it has in the young guys. Whether such a tactic is wasted on a team with little surrounding talent is a discussion for another day. Some would argue that a quarterback with real promise would show it regardless of how well his teammates perform. Some would argue that having Quincy Enunwa as the number-one receiver would lead to failure from even Aaron Rodgers.
What the Jets’ plan does mean, to me at least, is that McCown has no place in this lineup. This, despite him obviously being the best quarterback of the bunch. McCown has experience. Dare I say he could be capable of winning football games. What good would that do the Jets?
Dan Salem: The New York Jets are not trying to win much this season, but they will be developing young players all across their offense. This means a capable quarterback with leadership abilities has to play for this football team. The young Jets receivers have looked great in their small sample size, but unless they have a reliable quarterback, their development will be stunted. No tank job is worth sacrificing the growth of the entire young roster. Plus, New York’s head coach needs to do enough to keep his job. Todd Bowles has a steep hill to climb.
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New York has shed as much money as possible this offseason, but I’m not sure any amount of tanking will sink this football team to worst in the NFL. They must lose more games than Cleveland, Chicago, and San Francisco to get the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and the Jets play the Browns. I don’t see it happening. Top five is a more realistic goal.
Selection
Todd Salem: The other interesting factor in this discussion is the contract incentives on McCown’s one-year deal with New York. According to Spotrac, McCown can make an extra $7 million if he meets a few thresholds. Some of them are hilarious. He gets $1.5 million if he plays at least 65 percent of the snaps in the Super Bowl. He gets another $1.5 million on top of that if he wins the Super Bowl. However, he also gets $125,000 per regular season game for each time he plays at least 50 percent of the snaps. Again, what good would playing McCown do for the Jets, other than cost them money?
My gut tells me that Bryce Petty is inserted as starting quarterback before Week 1. Perhaps he has a good preseason, or maybe the team pulls a 76ers move and doesn’t even try to hide its tanking plan. Petty starts Week 1, but he and Hackenberg each get shots throughout the year. This doesn’t bode well for either’s success, but again, New York probably doesn’t have their success as a general goal.
Dan Salem: While it appears from an outside perspective to be a three player competition, those close to the Jets know that Bryce Petty is not in serious consideration. He looked fine last season, but never made more than one throw that got you excited. He also made all of the “rookie” mistakes. Petty is a backup for this team, until he gets cut. The Jets want Hackenberg to succeed and he comes with the same red flags and green experience of Petty. Starting Petty over Hackenberg will not happen, barring injury.
In order to give the Jets offense time to gel, Josh McCown will start the season at quarterback. Because of the money you mentioned, he will not start more than four games max. That would net him close to half a million dollars, which is the likely cut off point. Christian Hackenberg takes over in week four at home versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. That gives him a weaker opponent at home to start off with, then the Browns on the road in Week 5.
Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Post-mandatory minicamp edition
That’s two easier games before facing New England at home in Week 6. I can see Hackenberg’s first start being against Cleveland instead, but the Jets want to win at home against the Patriots. They won’t make that game his first career start.