Geno Smith might be the only quarterback on the Jets roster that could start a game if the season began tomorrow, but his name is currently filled in with pencil as New York considers all options when it comes to the position. Both Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey have made it clear that Smith might not be the franchise option at quarterback, but it is unclear exactly who is. With free agency set to begin and the NFL Draft right around the corner, what will the Jets do with their quarterback job?
With the No. 6 draft pick, there is a real chance the Jets get left out of the quarterback race. The team cannot afford to wage their whole draft on one player which will make a trade up difficult. According to the New York Daily News, the Jets are very interested in acquiring Marcus Mariota to be the future of their franchise, but so are the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns have two first-round draft picks to offer up in a deal and the Eagles are considering selling the farm while potentially packaging Nick Foles and LeSean McCoy together for a move up. That will leave the Jets on the outside looking in.
If New York cannot get one of the top two quarterbacks, they need a Plan B to fall back on. Will that be a trade for someone like Sam Bradford? While the quarterback could be a solid option if healthy, the St. Louis Rams say no one has called. According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, despite the rumors of interest, no teams have called about a trade for Bradford. The sixth-year quarterback has had it rough the past few seasons with knee injuries running wild. He is pairing that string of bad luck with a contract that is a $16 million cap hit in 2015. It is no surprise a team like the Jets who need a quarterback are not jumping at that move.
New York's best option could be a veteran off the market that could allow Smith to take time and develop. According to ESPN.com, the Jets have met with Josh McCown about a potential deal and they could show interest in Brian Hoyer following his departure from the Cleveland Browns. Both quarterbacks can still keep the Jets competitive while buying the team time to figure out the future of the position.
