The New York Jets have been busy this week, most notably by trading Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and acquiring the 13th pick the first round of the NFL draft, but are they going to use one of their first-round picks on a quarterback? Speculation as of Wednesday is that despite the demotion of Mark Sanchez in 2012, and the continuing presence of Tim Tebow, the Jets will not do so.
NFL Draft rumors: Jets not expected to take QB in first round
The New York Jets were more of a circus than usual in 2012. Are they going to avoid adding to the mess and pass on a quarterback early, or is it all a smokescreen?
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But is it all another smokescreen?
It's hard to argue that the Jets don't need an upgrade at quarterback, but new general manager John Idzik has stood pat with Sanchez, Tebow, and backup Greg McElroy, while adding David Garrard and Matt Simms to the roster as well. If the Jets do not draft a quarterback, then it's likely that one of those players will be the starting quarterback for New York in 2013, a framework that did not work out that well for the Jets in 2012.
New York finished 6-10 last season, with Sanchez making 15 starts and completing only 54.3 percent of his pass attempts with 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Tebow was just 6-for-8 in passing on the season, while McElroy made one start, but is seen as a player with a limited ceiling. Garrard was cut by the Dolphins before last season and has not attempted a pass since 2010.
Will any of that motivate the Jets to take a quarterback in the top 13? The franchise has drafted four quarterbacks in the top 10 of a draft, including Hall of Famer Joe Namath as the No. 1 pick in 1965. He worked out a lot better than Sandy Stephens (fifth, 1962, though they did not draft him to play QB), Sanchez (fifth, 2009) and Richard Todd (sixth, 1976) did, so will any of that deter Idzik from taking Matt Barkley, Geno Smith or another prospect if they are available when the Jets are on the board? With the extra pick from Tampa, it seemed that they had more options to find another quarterback of the future.
They might just stick with what they have at present.
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