New York Jets need to make a huge QB move in 2023
The New York Jets effectively wasted one year of a playoff roster with their atrocious quarterback play in 2023. They need to make a QB move next year. I’m not sure there’s a more obvious truth in front of any team right now than what’s in front of the New York Jets.
They completely whiffed on Zach Wilson, setting their franchise back just a hair, and the Mike White experience, which was fun for a couple of games, is not a viable solution for the team in 2023 and beyond.
After racing out to a 7-4 start, the Jets proceeded to lose five games in a row and are now eliminated from the playoffs in 2022. General Manager Joe Douglas has largely done a good job at assembling the roster that New York has, but he made the one mistake that you don’t want to make.
Zach Wilson is not a franchise quarterback, and I’d argue that his play isn’t good enough to make it as a backup in the NFL. The 2021 second-overall pick has very few if any positive aspects about his game.
The Jets’ roster is locked and loaded and ready to compete. They simply need to make a move for a quarterback this offseason, and I think they’ll have a few opportunities to do so. The Raiders seemed poised to move off of Derek Carr.
Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent this year, and the fit there is natural, given that the New York Jets poached their most recent coaching staff from the San Francisco 49ers. I do believe the Titans will move off of Ryan Tannehill, and if Tom Brady does not retire, he’s got another free agency period ahead of him.
I don’t think it’s realistic to expect Lamar Jackson to be anywhere but Baltimore in 2023, so I’d count that out, but the Jets just need someone competent. They could take the approach that the Chiefs did several years ago.
Alex Smith kept them upright for a while until they were ready to take a chance on someone.
The Bills did a similar thing with Tyrod Taylor until they were ready to take a chance on Josh Allen.
Depending on who the Jets want to target, they might be able to get somewhat of a long-term solution set, but whatever path they take, it’s clear that Zach Wilson cannot start for them in 2023.