New York Jets: Should rookie quarterback start Week 1?

The New York Jets should start their rookie quarterback Week 1, especially given they finally have the matchup advantage at wide receiver if everyone remains healthy in 2018.

There’s one age old question in the NFL: Should rookie quarterbacks start immediately or wait? In 2018, the NFL landscape has changed. According to Pro Football Focus Elite, teams ran the ball a total of 11,760 times in 2017. That’s compared to a total of 19,460 times they dropped back to pass. That underscores the importance of matchups from the receiver position, and the New York Jets may finally have that.

The expectation is that Robby Anderson will be suspended for his run-in with the law over the winter in Florida, despite the major charges being dropped by the district attorney. That said, the Jets now have two guys in Anderson and Terrelle Pryor who can be speed threats on the outside.

Jermaine Kearse played 530 snaps in the slot last season, and he understands the route concepts in there. He also has yards after catch ability inside, but the real matchup nightmare for the slot would be Quincy Enunwa. He has a size advantage over the defensive backs and a speed and quickness advantage over the linebackers.

With the right quarterback, presumably with the No. 3 overall pick, they can exploit this advantage. Even early on in the season, the way Josh McCown played in 2017, there may be opportunities to gain this advantage.

Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield are accurate and have quality NFL arm strength. That coupled with the route running ability and speed threats the Jets have — as long as they take one of those players with the No. 3 overall pick — they should get their rookie in right away.

Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown may have originally been brought in to compete for the starting role. However, both are viable backups if the rookie struggles out of the gate. The Jets need to exploit their wide receiver advantage right out of the gate, and all three rookies have stronger arms than both Bridgewater and McCown.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-Round projection

It may seem nuts to throw them into the fire, but it’s about using players with the right skills to exploit matchups. These rookies present a better opportunity for that, even though they’re rookies. Let them learn in camp and preseason. Then let him rip Week 1.