New York Jets: Brett Favre the Biggest NFL Draft “What If”

NFL Nation reporters recently released the biggest NFL Draft “what ifs” list for all 32 teams. What was the biggest “what if” for the New York Jets?

Since winning the Super Bowl in 1969, the New York Jets have been desperately trying to get back there. Not too long ago, the Jets were in the AFC Championship Game two years in a row. However, poor play from the quarterback position resulted in them losing both games.

In the history of the franchise, the quarterback position has been an issue. Joe Namath was able to lead them to Super Bowl win, but there hasn’t been much at the position since then. Vinny Testaverde and Chad Pennington were the two most recent to have success, but neither are considered great quarterbacks.

In the article by ESPN, Rich Cimini points to the 1991 NFL Draft as the biggest “what if” for the Jets. Here’s what he had to say about the draft that year.

"The Jets thought they had a trade worked out with the Cardinals. The plan was to switch places with the Cards in the second round and pick Favre, whom the Jets had rated as the No. 1 player on their draft board. (They had no first-round pick.) At the last minute, the trade fell apart. Favre went to the Falcons and, with the next pick, the Jets settled for QB Browning Nagle. His career consisted of 500 fewer touchdown passes than Favre. — Rich Cimini"

Getting Favre in 1991 would have been excellent for the Jets, as he obviously became one of the best quarterbacks of all-time. With the Green Bay Packers, Favre went on to win multiple MVPs, and a Super Bowl during his tenure there.

The Jets did, of course, eventually get Favre. However, it was toward the end of his career. With the Jets, Favre and the team got off to a great start in the 2008 season, but Favre downplayed an injury that really affected his play in the final few weeks of the season. The Jets ended up missing the playoffs that season and that year ended as a “what if” in its own right.

Next: Complete 2017 First Round Mock Draft

Flash forward 25 years from the 1991 NFL Draft, the Jets are still hoping to land a quarterback like Favre.