And of course there is always this
It wouldn't be a Jets offseason without some juicy QB speculation
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Jan 25, 2016
Rich Cimini
ESPN Staff Writer
You're going to hear a lot about these two players in connection with the New York Jets over the next few months -- Paxton Lynch and Carson Wentz.
They both play quarterback and they're both projected as first-round picks, and we all know there's a pre-draft obsession when it comes to the Jets and potential franchise quarterbacks. Last year's buzz focused on Marcus Mariota. This year it'll be about Lynch and Wentz because, if the early prognostications are correct, one or both could be available when the Jets pick at No. 20.
We all know things could change over the next few months -- good quarterbacks shoot up draft boards -- but, for now, they're worth discussing because they fit the profile of what the Jets need. They don't need a plug-and-play quarterback because they have 33-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick, assuming he re-signs, but they could be in the market for a long-term answer. They haven't given up on Bryce Petty, but Lynch and Wentz have the kind of raw talent that warrants consideration.
Carson Wentz would at least have to be considered by the Jets if he's available when it's their turn to pick. AP Photo/Mike Stone
The postseason evaluation process already is underway. Wentz will be under the microscope this week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., starting Tuesday with the first practice. This is a huge opportunity for Wentz, who played at tiny North Dakota State and needs to convince pro scouts he can succeed against big-time competition.
Wentz, listed at 6-foot-6, already is drawing plenty of attention from scouts and draft experts. He's ranked 18th on Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board. Cal's Jared Goff (6-foot-4), widely regarded as the top quarterbacks prospect, is fifth on Mel's BB. Memphis' Lynch (6-foot-7) is 19th.
It's too early to predict what will happen on draft day, but what if Wentz and/or Lynch slips to the Jets? Would they take the quarterback plunge?
"I would say simply, quarterback is like a lot of positions in the draft," general manager Mike Maccagnan said after the season. "We’re going to kind of evaluate it as a whole, and once we sort of establish our board we’ll make that determination if the best player available at our pick is a quarterback or another position and go from there.
"I think every NFL team probably goes into the draft, with maybe a few exceptions of people who have really well-established quarterbacks, looking at that position as a position of interest," he added. "We’ll be no different than them. I don’t want to sit there and say, with the 20th pick were going to be targeting a quarterback. Two things: one is you don’t want to tell the 31 other teams what you’re going to do, but I also think that’s kind of a flawed approach to a certain degree."
Translation: Don't bet against it at this point.
Yes, the Jets have other needs, but Maccagnan, in a recent interview, referred to a conversation with Hall-of-Fame GM Ron Wolf when he interviewed for the Jets' job last year. Wolf, consulting for the Jets during their GM search, told Maccagnan his philosophy was to draft a quarterback every year, if possible, because it's the most important position.
We'll have three months to debate the topic. Consider this an early look-in.
