New York Jets: Third quarterback on depth chart unnecessary

The New York Jets currently have three quarterbacks on the roster, and they likely will keep all three, but that’s unnecessary.

The quarterback is the most important position in football. Getting a franchise guy is important, and as the Eagles proved, having a good backup is important too. The New York Jets have three quarterbacks on the roster, but they should go into the season with two instead.

If Teddy Bridgewater proves to be healthy in camp and preseason, he should go into the season as the Jets backup quarterback. He’s already taken the a team to the playoffs, and even though his arm strength is limited, he should be next in line.

Keeping Bridgewater would make Josh McCown the most expensive third-string quarterback in NFL history. If that scenario plays out, the only reason they’d keep McCown is so they don’t have to eat the $10 million contract, which is fully guaranteed. Cutting him, though, doesn’t hurt their cap in 2019. So, is it really necessary to keep him as a third guy.

The Jets already have an emergency quarterback on the roster, if he’s healthy. Terrelle Pryor could be the Jets emergency quarterback if absolutely necessary. I know he’s a terrible quarterback, but in the end, if the Jets are having to turn to their third quarterback, it doesn’t matter.

It wouldn’t be unprecedented for a team to use a player at another position, specifically wide receiver, as an emergency quarterback. The Patriots actually have Julian Edelman as their emergency quarterback.

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The Jets likely signed Josh McCown, because they thought they might not get a quarterback who would be ready Week 1 to start in the draft when they were sitting at No. 6. Then, they traded up, and they got their franchise quarterback.

Even if McCown is the backup, they can either trade or cut Bridgewater. In the end, having three quarterbacks doesn’t make sense in 2018.