Could the New York Jets make a massive QB move?
The New York Jets are 5-2 and are the surprise of the 2022 NFL season. However, could they look to improve their shaky quarterback situation? I’m not sure anyone expected the Jets to be 5-2, but they are, and they have an incredibly winnable game in week eight against the New England Patriots.
This chart made several years ago assigns each possible record of an NFL team into a playoff chance percentage. This was made with the 16-game season still existing, but still, according to the chart, the Jets have a 75% chance to make the playoffs at 5-2. Wild. Their defense has taken a leap and their running game is elite.
Should the Jets be making a bold quarterback move?
With Breece Hall set to miss the rest of the season, their effectiveness in the run game remains to be seen, but a recent trade for James Robinson could help cover up for the loss. It appears that the New York Jets are back, and they’re winning in a more old-school way.
That could be because of their second-year quarterback Zach Wilson, who has not taken much of a leap at all in year two. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, brother of Matt LaFleur is running the typical Shanahan offense, which is known to be somewhat QB friendly.
However, Zach Wilson has not shown much in the way of development in this offense. He has one touchdown pass and two interceptions on the season in four games. The last three games have seen him throw zero touchdowns or interceptions, and his 57.4% completion percentage is dangerously low.
He’s not much better than last year, and with the Jets having a ton of young players, General Manager Joe Douglas might have to make a move for a legitimate quarterback if Wilson cannot put something together over the last chunk of the season.
Could the Jets hunt for a QB upgrade?
The Jets might have to swing for a QB via trade if they want immediate improvement. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens appear to be in a weird spot with his contract extension. Could Jackson request a trade eventually if the Ravens cannot meet his demands?
What about Jared Goff in Detroit? Goff has been pretty solid for them but may not have a long-term future with the team. Their record could also have Dan Campbell on the outs and they could enter a QB conundrum themselves.
Could Derek Carr find his way out of a Raider uniform soon? The recent extension he signed is actually very team-friendly in terms of dead cap and cap savings if he were to be cut or traded as early as 2023.
In fact, it looks like that was the plan for Carr’s extension. He’s been the consistent force on the Raiders for years as they have endured quite a few losing seasons. Perhaps they could move in a different direction.
What about Jimmy Garoppolo? He’ll be available and could make some sense for the Jets. He’d be playing in the same offense with some nice weapons in New York and could allow the 49ers to more or less officially move into the Trey Lance era.
I don’t think it’s hard to find an upgrade over Zach Wilson, especially if he does not improve for the rest of 2022. Joe Douglas might have to look elsewhere for some respectable QB play in this case. Swinging a trade or signing a free agent QB could be the move for the J-E-T-S.