Todd Bowles addressed the media at the NFL Combine on Wednesday, touching on a number of different topics, including the team's uncertain quarterback situation.
Jets coach Todd Bowles still evaluating Geno Smith
Smith has endured two rough seasons in the Big Apple. Will he still be a starter in his third year?
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Bowles was noncommittal on the future of incumbent starter Geno Smith. He said that Smith "has a good arm, he's a good athlete, and he can throw the ball and make all throws." But the head coach wouldn't elaborate on Smith's ability to be a No. 1 QB until he meets with him and has a chance to fully evaluate the 2013 second-round pick and "what he's good at, what he's not good at, what kind of intangibles he has going forward."
Smith was in the discussion for worst starting quarterback in the NFL last season, fighting for supremacy with the likes of Josh McCown and Blake Bortles. Smith threw 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, including three in the first quarter during a Week 8 loss against the Buffalo Bills. The showing cost Smith the starting job until Michael Vick proved equally horrendous a month later, prompting then-head coach Rex Ryan to revert back to Smith in December.
Smith was much better over the final four games, throwing six touchdowns against two picks while earning a 2-2 record. The former West Virginia star also had his career-best performance in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins, completing 20 of 25 passes for 358 yards and a trio of scores without a turnover.
Now, with a new general manager in Mike Maccagnan and head coach in Bowles, there are plenty of questions for the organization. Chief among them is Smith and his place in the team’s plans.
Bowles told reporters at the combine that there’s a chance they might bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with Smith. Maccagnan added that the team did meet with free agent quarterback Josh McCown on Wednesday, according to Seth Walder of the New York Daily News. McCown has also met with the Buffalo Bills and the Chicago Bears.
One factor in Smith's favor is the lack of talent on the free agent market for quarterbacks. The best options are Brian Hoyer and McCown, both career backups who finally got chances over the past two years. Hoyer is 30 years old and fairly competent, although he lost his job to Johnny Manziel. Hoyer also had a completion percentage of 55.3, second-worst in the NFL. For comparison's sake, Smith checked in at 59.7 percent, 27th in the league.
However, the Jets also hold the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft this April. The quarterback class is relatively weak, but there are two signal callers at the top projected to go early in Jameis Winston of Florida State and Marcus Mariota of Oregon. While many believe Winston will go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the top selection, there is debate on Mariota's landing spot.
The GM revealed to the media during Wednesday’s press conference that the team will meet with both Winston and Mariota at the combine, per Walder, and said they might select a quarterback with their first-round pick. If Maccagnan believes Mariota is the right fit, he could either hope the Heisman winner falls to No. 6 or make a minor move up to ensure the acquisition.
The Jets could also roll the dice in the second or third round and take a flier on Bryce Petty or Brett Hundley, much like former GM John Idzik did on Smith in 2013. In any case, it would appear Smith has a chance to win a camp battle.
Both Bowles and Maccagnan at Wednesday's media session also skirted around questions about Percy Harvin, telling reporters that "it's a process" and that they are still evaluating the situation. Maccagnan did indicate that the team might ask Harvin to restructure his contract, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN, and plans to meet with Harvin's agent this week in Indianapolis.
Harvin was traded to the Jets from the Seattle Seahawks in October, yet was far from impressive in his eight-game audition with the team. He caught 29 passes for 350 yards and one touchdown, and added 110 yards on the ground. Harvin is signed through 2018 with a cap charge of $10.5 million for next season. All of that money is in his base salary, so the Jets would save $10.5 million against the salary cap in 2015 if they release Harvin this winter.
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