The New York Jets’ quarterback situation remains a hot mess. Both Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick will not return next season. Prior to adding Josh McCown in free agency, the combination of Bryce Petty and 2016 second-round pick Christian Hackenberg were vying for snaps.
Needless to say, this position isn’t anywhere near settled in the Big Apple.
Now, according to Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan, the team will not rule out selecting another quarterback in next month’s 2017 NFL Draft.
“I don’t think taking a player at one position is a referendum on another player,” Maccagnan said, via SNY.com (h/t Pro Football Talk). “I think the goal is to put together (the) best roster you can. Of course quarterback is a very, very important position in this process. But I wouldn’t necessarily view it as a referendum.”
Maccagnan might not believe that this is a referendum on Hackenberg and whoever else is on the roster as a potential long-term solution. Then again, that could be the GM’s way of playing the media game.
Reports from those within the Jets’ organization last year were not good as it relates to Hackenberg. In fact, there seems to be a scenario in play here that suggests the team has already given up on the Penn State product.
For his part, Maccagnan didn’t really have the best of comments in regards to the young quarterback recently (more on that here).
This shouldn’t be a surprise to the masses. Hackenberg was downright horrible during his final two seasons at Penn State. New York shocked the football world by exhausting a second-round pick on him in the first place last year.
Whether Maccagnan and Co. will admit that selection is a mistake by picking up another quarterback in the first round next month remains to be seen. New York is selecting sixth overall and is in prime position to pick up one of the top-tier signal callers in the draft.
In any event, something needs to change here. Jets quarterbacks combined to throw 16 touchdowns compared to 25 interceptions during a five-win 2016 season. That’s most definitely not sustainable.