Here is a depressing statistic for all of you Jets fans that underscores how miserable this team’s quarterback history has been: Ryan Fitzpatrick moved past Geno Smith into eighth place in team history with 6,157 passing yards as a Jet.
Let that soak in for a minute: Fitzpatrick and Smith are two of the 10 best quarterbacks statistically this franchise has had.
Which brings us to this offseason. The Jets are faced with another huge decision to make at quarterback, which has been a pretty steady storyline for this team since Joe Namath left town after 1976.
This 2017 quarterback decision for general manager Mike Maccagnan sets up like one of those old “Choose Your Own Adventure” kids books. Remember those? Where you were a character and after a few pages, you were given a few options and jumped to Page 43 with one option or Page 52 with another.
Maccagnan’s decision about what to do at quarterback next year can be summarized by a series of questions and his answers to them.
Is the quarterback on the current roster?
This is where your adventure begins. There is about a 1 percent chance Fitzpatrick is back next year, so cross him off the list. Geno Smith is likely gone, too, but I could see a scenario where the Jets decide Smith is worth keeping around if they do not like the other options out there. I’m not sure Smith would want to stay here, but his options will be limited after knee surgery.
Even with Smith a small possibility, this is really about the kids. Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are unknowns at this point. That is why the fanbase is clamoring to see at least one of them. Coach Todd Bowles has been reluctant to pull the plug on 2016 and turn to Petty, but that is coming. Figure Petty gets at least four total games this season (including one he already played). That will give the Jets a good idea of what they have in him. Hackenberg is unlikely to be viewed as a starter in 2017. The 2016 second-round pick is a project and the Jets know it.
So, if Maccagnan answers “no” to this question, he should proceed to …
Do you bring in a ‘star’ quarterback to win now?
This really is about Tony Romo. The Cowboys have found their future with Dak Prescott (taken 84 picks after Hackenberg, but that is a story for another day). Now, will they trade Romo in the offseason? The price figures to be a mid-round pick to get Romo, which the Jets should give up if they think he is the answer.
If you decide to go with Romo, that means you are going for it in 2017. That also means adding other free agents and trying to patch up the holes in this roster rather than going young and delaying the inevitable rebuild this team needs to undergo.
Outside of Romo, Jay Cutler and Colin Kaepernick would fit this mold and should be available. I don’t think Cutler would do well in New York. Kaepernick carries a ton of off-the-field baggage with him now that he is an active protester. He also has struggled over the last few years, although he has played better in recent weeks.
If Maccagnan answers “no” to this question, he should proceed to …
Do you sign a ‘bridge’ quarterback?
If the decision is the Jets are going to rebuild with younger guys, but Petty and Hackenberg are not quite ready, this is the way to go.
Josh McCown, Brian Hoyer and Mike Glennon all should be available this offseason. Adding one of them could give you a professional starter while you bring Petty and/or Hackenberg along.
If Maccagnan answers “no” to this question, he should proceed to …
Do you draft another quarterback?
The Jets have drafted more quarterbacks than any other team since 2006. Do they go down that road again? This quarterback draft class is considered a weak one, but if you subscribe to the theory that you keep taking them until you find one, then the answer is yes.
You have reached the end of your adventure, Mike Maccagnan. If you chose wisely, this won’t be a conversation again in 2018. But chances are we’ll be doing this again next year.