NY Jets: Looking for a new Pilot?

Since Brett Favre’s retirement, the Jets are left looking for their future QB to fly the Jets up and away. So the question now lies with the Jets and the GM, what to do now? Finding a QB is very tough unless you have a great draft pick in the draft, which the Jets don’t have (in the 17 position). Also with drafting a QB, you never really ever know for sure if your draft pick will be a great pick or a bust in the futures to come. For instance look at Ryan Leaf, who was picked ahead of Peyton Manning (Superbowl winner and 3x MVP winner)…or heck even Favre who was drafted in the 3rd/4th round in the draft. Let’s not also forget about Tom Brady, who was drafted in the 6th round (he did pretty well, 3 Superbowl rings in total and MVP winner). Like last year, Matt Ryan who was drafted by the Falcons, was a very iffy pick. People weren’t too sure what to expect of him, but as it turned out…he did very well as a rookie QB this past season winning Rookie of the Year honors last season. So there is always a be chance at drafting a QB.

Should the Jets draft a QB in the 09 draft? I think if someone is available and that someone maybe Mark Sanchez, then yes. We all know that the Lions will most likely draft Matthew Stafford, or at least be picked before being available by the time the Jets pick. Then Sanchez will be the most obvious choice for the Jets. If you look at the draft picks before the Jets, who need a QB (49ers, Chiefs) he might not be there at that time. If Sanchez is there, take him and make him be the QB of the future for the Jets.

Now the question will be if they pick Sanchez, should they start him right away? In their case, yes and no. Yes, if the Jets see that Kellen Clemens can’t get the job done, but I think he will be the starter next season because of what he knows as a QB who has been in the NFL already. The Jets did draft him in the 2nd round of the draft for a reason right? If Clemens is progressing well, then start the guy. I’m not saying that he will definitely start the season, but he has a better understanding of the speed of the game. If you just throw in Sanchez, the game will be much quicker and faster compared to the college games. He’ll make his rookie mistakes. Let’s not forget that he didn’t play too much over at USC and is not returning for his senior season at USC. His coach didn’t think he was ready either…"I'm disappointed that's his decision, because I think there's a lot of information that says [leaving early] is not going to help him out as much as he thinks," said USC Coach Pete Carroll. If the Jets do pick Sanchez, I think the Jets should take the Packers and Bengals route of devolving their young QB. If you look at Carson Palmer before he got hurt, he was a decent QB, and Aaron Rodgers did very well this past season too. Give him time to learn the game at this level.

Another thing the Jets can do is get a Veteran QB. If Warner and Kerry Collin are free agents, get them ASAP. To tell you the truth, that is not going to happen at all. Those guys will be back playing for their teams or retire. The one Veteran the Jets could get should be Byron Leftwich. Leftwich got cut by the Jags and then the Flacons, but got a job being Ben Roethlisberger’s backup in Pittsburgh. His time with the Steelers, he seemed like the old Leftwich with the Jags. He played well when Big Ben got hurt and drove the team scoring touchdowns. I think getting Leftwich would be a decent idea for the Jets. The guy appeared in 5 games last season and he completed 21 of 36 attempts for 303 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 104.3 passer rating. That’s not bad for a guy who sits on the bench. He was prepared and knew the playbook on the back of his hand. He shows that he still has what it takes to play.

Whatever the Jets do, they have many options. They could draft someone which could work and not work, depending on how Sanchez does at workouts and what not. They can even go out into the market and get a veteran QB in free agency. I don’t think that Jet fans should be freaking out because they have some options. Remember the Jets next season won’t be the same Jet’s of this past season. Brett Favre brought a new dimension to them, a winning spirit and knowledge to the team. If Clemens or Sanchez start next season, they’re not going to be playoff contenders right away. If they do get Leftwich, they sure have a better shot.