It’s the week of the NFL Draft and, for fans of the Jets, it’s Alka-Seltzer time!
Because, once again, the Jets find themselves in search of another future face for the franchise. Yes, we’ve been here before. The names have changed, the plot, however, remains the same.
Trading Sam Darnold confirmed what many predicted after the No.2 overall pick was secured. There’s going to be a new franchise quarterback coming to town… again.
For the Jets, Darnold was supposed to be their guy. The same way Mark Sanchez was supposed to be their guy.
Geno Smith and Christian Hackenberg. Remember those two draft picks? Or do you remember more how their respective careers as a Jet came and went?
And for the old school Jet fans out there? I won’t leave you out on this brief trip down memory lane. Remember Browning Nagle? Or do you remember him for throwing more career interceptions than touchdowns?
The list of quarterbacks selected by the Jets in NFL drafts is a who’s who of potential candidates for a “Where are they now?” feature piece.
Darnold’s trade to the Carolina Panthers made it a virtual lock the Jets will be selecting a quarterback with second overall pick later this week.
The Darnold trade also put the spotlight directly on general manager Joe Douglas. He not only must draft Darnold’s replacement, he must do for him what he failed to do for his predecessor.
The Jets have needs on their roster at running back, wide receiver, and on the offensive line.
Yes, there’s needs on defense with this team. Their new head coach, Robert Saleh, is a defensive-minded coach and will have his say in the draft, as he should. This is a team in recent years, however, which has consistently ranked in the bottom half of the league in total yards. There’s no getting around the fact this is a team in dire need of upgrades offensively.
If it’s Zach Wilson out of BYU or Ohio State’s Justin Fields, Douglas must surround his future quarterback with enough help to flourish. All eyes are on Wilson as the name we’ll hear called after the Jets turn in their pick.
Douglas didn’t draft Darnold, he also didn’t do much to upgrade the talent around him. He’ll get his chance to draft the quarterback of his choosing and then make good on what he was unable to do for Darnold.
The Darnold trade gave New York 21 draft picks over the next two springs.
This year, the Jets will pick in the first round at number 2 and 23 on the board, in the second round they’ll pick at No. 34. There are two more picks in the third round (66 and 86), a fourth rounder (107), and two picks each in the fifth and sixth round respectively.
It’s a career-defining draft for Douglas. He’s done an admirable job of stocking the war chest with draft picks, now it’s time to put them to use. A miss on a quarterback not only sets an NFL team backwards, it’s a body blow for a general manager’s tenure.
Everyone will be watching to see who Douglas tabs as the next potential face for the franchise. Get your Alka-Seltzer ready, we’ve been down this road before.
Image: Joe Douglas – Getty
