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It goes without saying that the Jets’ choice for backup QB this season is huge.
We saw what happened last season.
After Aaron Rodgers got hurt, they went with Zach Wilson, even though they intended on taking a step back with Wilson last season, to help him fix his mechanics, footwork and decision-making. That stuff wasn’t fixed by Week 1, when he had to play again.
Jets owner Woody Johnson said during Super Bowl Week in Las Vegas that the Jets “didn’t have a backup QB last year.”
But then last week, he tweeted a video of Zach Wilson throwing a touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson against Buffalo in Week 1.
Strange.
Johnson’s quote could hurt the Jets in their attempt to trade Wilson this off-season. It will be interesting to find out why he said, “They didn’t have a backup QB last year” the next time he is available to the media, but there is a chance nobody will ask.
Why didn’t the Jets go out and get another QB after Rodgers went down, according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports it was related to finances.
“Why are the #Jets not signing a more highly-regarded free agent QB or trading for one?” Anderson tweeted during last season. “I’m told there are budget concerns (2nd-most spending in cash [$280M] behind CLE).”
As we wrote a few weeks ago, with Rodgers making around $38 million last year, and Wilson around $10 million, perhaps they didn’t want to spend much more at the position.
But the bottom line is they need to do a better job of having an insurance policy behind Rodgers, especially since he’s 40 and coming off a torn Achilles.
So where should they turn?
A report from SNY said suggested they should trade for Washington’s Sam Howell.
The reporter claimed, “There are those in the Jets building who believe he can play, too.”
Wow, after the leak issues during the season (remember the story that claimed Wilson didn’t want to start anymore), and then in The Athletic blockbuster a few ago with 30 sources, people are still talking in the building, and telling a reporter how they feel about Howell, who is under contract to another team.
How are people in the building giving their opinion on Howell to a reporter?
How is this still going on?
Wow. Just. Wow.
But Howell probably isn’t the way to go right now.
Why would the Jets want him after they dominated him so much in their win over the Commanders last year, Howell got benched in the game in favor of Jacoby Brissett?
Was that the film that made “Those in the Jets building believe he can play, too?”
Howell’s eye level was terrible in the game, perhaps after taking a terrible beating all year behind a bad Commanders’ offensive line.
Eye level is very important at QB. You have to keep your eyes down the field, not at the pass rush. Howell was looking at the Jets’ pass rush in that game.
The Jets don’t need a young, developmental backup behind Rodgers, they need somebody like Gardner Minshew or Brissett, a guy with myriad NFL starts.
February 22, 2024
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