The New York Jets will likely be in need of a quarterback this offseason. Who should they consider trying to acquire?
When the New York Jets enter the 2017 offseason after a disastrous 2016, it’s clear that quarterback will be at the top of the least. The Jets will be tempted to do what they have done time and time again. Go out and bring in a veteran quarterback and that will be the answer to their problems.
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Has it worked though? Vinny Testaverde and Brett Favre are the most famous examples and while both had their moments, neither lived up to their expectations. Sure, the Jets could be tempted by Tony Romo, Jay Cutler, or Colin Kaepernick but would that really help? Kaepernick and Cutler’s performances have severely declined over this season and Romo’s injury history is a major problem only magnified by New York’s woeful offensive line.
One option for the Jets is to go a less conventional route for the franchise. Instead of overpaying for a declining veteran, how about a player that has some upside. Tampa Bay has found their franchise quarterback in Jameis Winston which could make their backup Mike Glennon an intriguing option.
Glennon had a nice rookie campaign in Tampa throwing for 19 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. Despite the strong campaign, he was thrown aside when Lovie Smith became the new head coach of the Buccaneers and replaced him with Josh McCown. This off-season Glennon will be an unrestricted free agent at the age of 27, and would be a far cheaper option for New York.
Given all the needs the team will have to address in the off-season, anywhere the Jets can save is a huge bonus. Plus, Glennon will have something to prove. In 21 career games Glennon has thrown for over 4,000 yards, 30 TDs, and only 15 interceptions.
Physically, there is a lot to like about Glennon. At 6’6 and over 230 pounds, he has the build and arm talent to be a franchise quarterback issues. While he does have limited mobility in the pocket and can have some accuracy issues there is still a lot to like. Scouts have been high on Glennon including John Gruden who compared him to a Super Bowl winning quarterback on Monday Night Football.
Gruden:
"“If you want a recent comparison, I don’t think the similarities to Joe Flacco are unfair. They’re both 6-foot-6, they both have really nice throwing motions and they both have a nice, compact stroke that just looks effortless. If you watch end-zone film of Flacco, there are times when you go, ‘Wow!’ when he snaps one off. I found myself saying the same with Glennon a few times.”"
Bottom line is that Glennon could be a low-risk high reward gamble that the Jets should investigate. With plenty of years ahead of him, he could be a franchise quarterbacks for a few years as opposed to a veteran who is a short-term stopgap at quarterback.
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While there will be many options for the Jets at quarterback this offseason, it may be time to try something new and give Glennon a chance to earn the starting job. Worst case scenario, is that he can be a bridge while the team develops a younger quarterback. Either way, it’s an easier and cheaper solution then going after an expensive free agent or drafting a quarterback high in the 2017 NFL Draft.