The New York Jets have been meeting with some of the top quarterback prospects for the upcoming draft, and the thinking is that’s because they want to move on from Geno Smith.
Smith, who was drafted in the second round in 2013, has turned the ball over 41 times and thrown for just 25 touchdowns in 30 career games. He has shown some potential, but he has not been successful enough to look like a franchise QB. Now a report from Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole says the Jets are interested in taking a quarterback in the draft because they want to “move on” from Smith.
Cole says the Jets have looked at Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Brett Hundley, Bryce Petty and even Garrett Grayson.
“The Jets want to move on from Geno Smith. They want to find another answer at quarterback,” Cole reports. “They don’t believe that Geno Smith is ultimately going to be the guy for them. So that’s why they’re taking a look at some of the high-profile guys, because they’re at the No. 6 spot.
“They want to know, can they get a shot at Marcus Mariota, can they get a shot at Jameis Winston. They’re going to look at trying to get either one of those two guys. They really like Winston, but expect that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to stay put, take Jameis Winston or ask for a king’s ransom to move down from that pick. A ransom that not even the Jets are willing to pay.”
Cole believes trading up for Mariota is a more realistic possibility for the Jets. That notion conflicts with previous reports that said the Jets would be willing to trade their pick to the Eagles for Mariota.
We agree that the Jets need to move on from Smith and find a true franchise QB, but if they’re not getting Winston or Mariota, we suggest they wait until later rounds to take one. Hundley, Petty or Grayson are not worth the No. 6 overall pick.
