You’d be forgiven for thinking that New York Jets fans have Simon and Garfunkel on repeat right now. Even amongst the celebration of beating the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, the sound of silence sounded all too familiar. After all the hope of trading for Aaron Rodgers and finally opening the Super Bowl window this offseason, the Jets faced a cruel reality on their first offensive drive of the game when Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles.
With Rodgers now out for the rest of the season, that fleeting moment of hope the Jets had is gone. Zach Wilson provided insurance for one game and helped lead the Jets to a momentous victory against the Bills, but unless he’s become a competent quarterback overnight, there’s a slim chance that he can be the guy to get the Jets over the hump and into the playoffs in 2023. Especially in a vaunted AFC.
The Jets roster is too good to throw in the towel after just one game, especially one in which they beat a divisional opponent. This is a team that’s ready to compete for a Super Bowl now – not everyone can beat the Bills’ offense into submission. They’ll be assessing all options moving forward, but what options do they have?
Roll with what they have
This option relies on the Jets trusting Zach Wilson and what he can bring to the team moving forward. Given the circumstances, it’s hard to see that playing out. Wilson was the worst starting quarterback in the NFL last season and may have single-handedly cost the Jets a playoff spot. While that may be a little harsh, Wilson was dead last in EPA per play. The Jets spent the No. 2 overall pick on him three years ago and swiftly decided that he wasn’t the guy.
Wilson has shown flashes. He’s got a cannon of an arm, intermittent spells of arm talent, and he’s athletic enough to avoid pressure and get out on the move. But it’s too few and far between. The Zach Wilson we saw for most of his two years under centre looked like a deer in the headlights. His pre and post-snap decision-making was chaotic, he struggled to make plays within the structure of the offense and was wildly inaccurate. He wasn’t a starting quarterback. There may be a franchise quarterback deep under the surface, but his developmental timeline just didn’t fit the Jets timeline.
Is one offseason with Rodgers enough to change this tiger’s stripes? That’s the real question. Having Rodgers as his mentor at the quarterback position is as good as it gets. He’s one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time and has likely forgotten more than most QBs learn throughout their entire careers. The hope for the Jets is that some of that sparkle has rubbed off onto Wilson. But after one offseason? It seems unlikely. The Jets could go in the direction of keeping Wilson as the starter, and it might boost his confidence. But that’s an exceptionally large ask.
Scour the free-agent market
Pickings are slim if you’re hunting for a quarterback on the free-agent market. The likes of Carson Wentz, Ian Book, and Colt McCoy don’t get the juices flowing and that’s totally fair. Wentz hasn’t been a high-end or even league-average starter for a long time. There’s a reason he remains unsigned in September.
Beyond those options, there’s Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Ryan hasn’t officially retired and has hinted that under the right circumstances, he could come back to the NFL. Are these the right circumstances? It’s unlikely. Ryan looked like a shell of his former self in Indianapolis last season behind the Colts’ offensive line and the Jets’ unit isn’t much better.
The option staring the Jets in the face is none other than Tom Brady. It’s so outlandish and so unlikely, but it makes a ton of sense. Brady can come back for one more season, contend for a Super Bowl, and then ply his trade in the announcing booth. It could never happen though, right? Right?…
A panic trade
The Jets may elect for a knee jerk reaction in wake of losing their franchise QB. But it also feels like the most logical move for the Jets moving forward. Trade for a low-cost, safe-floor type of quarterback to help steer the ship in the right direction, and get the ball to the playmakers while letting the defense be the shining star.
There are several such options on the market. Andy Dalton is currently the backup to Bryce Young in Carolina. While he didn’t play exciting football with the New Orleans Saints last season, Dalton will play within the offensive structure and keep things humming along. He doesn’t need to be spectacular and might be the preferred choice. He’s also making just $6 million in 2023. There’s no long-term baggage in trading for Dalton.
If the Jets want to throw caution to the wind, they’ll consider Jameis Winston. The former No. 1 overall pick has been the backup in New Orleans for a couple of years now and deserves another shot at starting for an NFL team. He’s probably the best backup in the league in terms of talent. Sure, he comes with a great deal of baggage with how he plays, but if he hits, the offense could be potent. But the risk is obvious.
Simply put, the Jets have a Super Bowl window with this roster and they know it. Whether that comes from picking up a phone and seeing how Philip Rivers’ arm feels, sticking with what they’ve got, or seeing if they can pry a backup QB away from another team, the next week or so in Jets land may be the most important of their entire season.
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @tvalentinesport
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.