Fanrag -- The New York Jets‘ neverending search for a franchise quarterback has been a hurdle for so long that much of the fan base can’t comprehend it coming to an end. While the draft always offers potential answers at the NFL’s most important position, free agency is usually not as kind.
This year is expected to be different. Unless the Washington Redskins franchise tag Kirk Cousins for the third time in a row, for an absurd cost of around $34 million, the 29-year-old franchise signal caller will hit free agency.
It’s no secret the cost will not come cheap — he’s expected to land a contract that would pay him nearly $30 million per year over the course of the next four or five seasons, with at least half of that guaranteed. The arguments surrounding Cousins will vary, but let’s break down why it’s worth the Jets going all-in to land him this offseason.
Rapid Rebuild
Every offseason checklist for the Jets starts with the same priority: quarterback. The problem is, they aren’t picking in the top three as once expected. This all but ensures they won’t have the chance to land Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold unless they mortgage a ton of their future draft capital in a trade up. There’s no guarantee that even Baker Mayfield would fall to them at sixth.
Going into the draft with those uncertainties is a massive risk. This is a team that can’t go into next year starting yet another old “bridge” quarterback. On the flip side, if they did land Cousins, it should only cost one thing: cap space.
Mike Maccagnan has at least $80 million to work with – a lot of money to use in free agency. Most importantly, this would allow the team to allocate draft assets elsewhere; the Jets aren’t short on needs.
They could land a pass rusher like Bradley Chubb in the top 10, a superstar running back in Saquon Barkley, or one of the best defenders in football, linebacker Roquan Smith.
It’s safe to say that all three positions mentioned above (dependent on re-signing Demario Davis) will be key needs. Going into the draft with quarterback already solved would accelerate their rebuild tremendously.
An Ideal Fit
Washington’s offense has experienced plenty of ups and downs during the Cousins era, but the latter was rarely due to him. The Redskins ran a heavy dose of play action, where Cousins’ ability to throw with touch to all three levels of the field flourished more often than not.
There was one key problem this year (outside of significant injuries on offense): Washington’s run game ranked 28th in the league, averaging a measly 90.5 yards on the ground per game.
[TWEET]950470722475970561[/TWEET]
Under both John Morton and Jeremy Bates, the Jets would ideally be a run-heavy team that relies on their defense, a unit they have invested heavily in over the past few drafts. If they can find an upgrade at center in free agency, their offense would have enough firepower before the draft to set up Cousins with enough supporting talent.
[TWEET]950471128371421185[/TWEET]
On top of the on-field fit, the front office has put a premium on building the right culture. Farewell Sheldon Richardson and an expected happy trails to Muhammad Wilkerson, hello Jamal Adams and company.
Cousins’ attitude and preparation are as good as it gets across the NFL. Bringing a well-prepared and dedicated leader into the fold to run the offense not only creates stability, but builds long-term success.
No Long-Term Setback
There is a common fear among Jet fans when inking Kirk Cousins to potentially the biggest deal the NFL has witnessed: the long-term ramifications of setting back the franchise financially.
This argument holds little weight due to one pressing question: Outside of Leonard Williams, whom are the Jets going to pay in the next three years?
Their best players are on the rookie wage scale and the few veterans worth keeping long-term are either under contract in that window or extremely affordable to bring back. A majority of the contracts the front office has constructed have not had a significant amount of guaranteed money outside of the first two years.
Many become infatuated with cap space and the inflated prices of the quarterback market. Derek Carr, an average-at-best quarterback, reset the market with a deal that pays him $25 million per year. Cousins will top that quite soon and it won’t be long before many after him do the same.
The salary cap across the NFL rises each year. With it comes a dramatic increase for the quarterback market. His pending deal might draw criticism in Year 1, but by the midway point he could trickle outside the top five highest-paid signal-callers.
There’s no denying it would be an overpay, but if every free-agent contract for star-caliber players draws that reaction, is it really an overpay or just a trend within the market?
It’s time for the Jets to end their franchise quarterback drought and do whatever they can to land Kirk Cousins in free agency.
This year is expected to be different. Unless the Washington Redskins franchise tag Kirk Cousins for the third time in a row, for an absurd cost of around $34 million, the 29-year-old franchise signal caller will hit free agency.
It’s no secret the cost will not come cheap — he’s expected to land a contract that would pay him nearly $30 million per year over the course of the next four or five seasons, with at least half of that guaranteed. The arguments surrounding Cousins will vary, but let’s break down why it’s worth the Jets going all-in to land him this offseason.
Rapid Rebuild
Every offseason checklist for the Jets starts with the same priority: quarterback. The problem is, they aren’t picking in the top three as once expected. This all but ensures they won’t have the chance to land Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold unless they mortgage a ton of their future draft capital in a trade up. There’s no guarantee that even Baker Mayfield would fall to them at sixth.
Going into the draft with those uncertainties is a massive risk. This is a team that can’t go into next year starting yet another old “bridge” quarterback. On the flip side, if they did land Cousins, it should only cost one thing: cap space.
Mike Maccagnan has at least $80 million to work with – a lot of money to use in free agency. Most importantly, this would allow the team to allocate draft assets elsewhere; the Jets aren’t short on needs.
They could land a pass rusher like Bradley Chubb in the top 10, a superstar running back in Saquon Barkley, or one of the best defenders in football, linebacker Roquan Smith.
It’s safe to say that all three positions mentioned above (dependent on re-signing Demario Davis) will be key needs. Going into the draft with quarterback already solved would accelerate their rebuild tremendously.
An Ideal Fit
Washington’s offense has experienced plenty of ups and downs during the Cousins era, but the latter was rarely due to him. The Redskins ran a heavy dose of play action, where Cousins’ ability to throw with touch to all three levels of the field flourished more often than not.
There was one key problem this year (outside of significant injuries on offense): Washington’s run game ranked 28th in the league, averaging a measly 90.5 yards on the ground per game.
[TWEET]950470722475970561[/TWEET]
Under both John Morton and Jeremy Bates, the Jets would ideally be a run-heavy team that relies on their defense, a unit they have invested heavily in over the past few drafts. If they can find an upgrade at center in free agency, their offense would have enough firepower before the draft to set up Cousins with enough supporting talent.
[TWEET]950471128371421185[/TWEET]
On top of the on-field fit, the front office has put a premium on building the right culture. Farewell Sheldon Richardson and an expected happy trails to Muhammad Wilkerson, hello Jamal Adams and company.
Cousins’ attitude and preparation are as good as it gets across the NFL. Bringing a well-prepared and dedicated leader into the fold to run the offense not only creates stability, but builds long-term success.
No Long-Term Setback
There is a common fear among Jet fans when inking Kirk Cousins to potentially the biggest deal the NFL has witnessed: the long-term ramifications of setting back the franchise financially.
This argument holds little weight due to one pressing question: Outside of Leonard Williams, whom are the Jets going to pay in the next three years?
Their best players are on the rookie wage scale and the few veterans worth keeping long-term are either under contract in that window or extremely affordable to bring back. A majority of the contracts the front office has constructed have not had a significant amount of guaranteed money outside of the first two years.
Many become infatuated with cap space and the inflated prices of the quarterback market. Derek Carr, an average-at-best quarterback, reset the market with a deal that pays him $25 million per year. Cousins will top that quite soon and it won’t be long before many after him do the same.
The salary cap across the NFL rises each year. With it comes a dramatic increase for the quarterback market. His pending deal might draw criticism in Year 1, but by the midway point he could trickle outside the top five highest-paid signal-callers.
There’s no denying it would be an overpay, but if every free-agent contract for star-caliber players draws that reaction, is it really an overpay or just a trend within the market?
It’s time for the Jets to end their franchise quarterback drought and do whatever they can to land Kirk Cousins in free agency.
