NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was on hand for New York Jets training camp on Monday. The Jets are a team that many already consider a sinking ship, and one that is tanking to gain the No. 1 pick next year.
However, Goodell doesn’t believe that is the case for the Jets or any other struggling franchise.
Roger Goodell: 'I don't think any teams tank, I really don't'https://t.co/TwvhyFchFb pic.twitter.com/ymXNeYxsFI
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) July 31, 2017
Goodell elaborated.
“I think teams, depending on where you are, go through transitions,” Goodell said via Rich Cimini of ESPN. “They are looking to sort of say, ‘We need to build more talent here, we’ll do it through the draft. Let’s let some of our veteran players go and develop some of our younger players.'”
As it pertains to the Jets in particular, having a first stab at a top college quarterback prospect in 2018 remains an enticing idea.
The Cleveland Browns that had the first overall pick this year and landed Myles Garrett. Then they circled around and took quarterback DeShone Kizer in the second round, bucking the trend of many teams desperate for help at the position of quarterback.
Many speculate that the Jets will finish the 2017 season with the worst record after they cleaned house in the offseason. They also opted to pass drafting any quarterbacks, putting their faith in Josh McCown, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg.
The Jets have “tank” written all over them. Whether it happens accidentally or not in 2017 might be hard to determine.