As Ron Burgundy would say, "a tip of the cap to you as well."
But instead of talking to Veronica Corningstone, I'm talking to the new regime of the New York Jets. General manager Mike Macagnan and head coach Todd Bowles have done an incredible job of addressing needs and adding talent this offseason. The secondary has been fixed thanks to the free agent signings of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. The trade for Brandon Marshall and the pick of Leonard Williams figure to pan out very well. Top to bottom, this roster doesn't look too bad.
But the Jets could still use a quarterback. No disrespect to Geno Smith, but 44 total turnovers in 30 career games isn't going to ingratiate you to fans in the Big Apple. But, fortunately for them, a new signal-caller could be coming in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Walterfootball.com projects the Jets to select Michigan State QB Connor Cook with the No. 9 overall pick next year. Of course, projections like this so far in advance have a tendency to be laughably inaccurate. But Macaggnan and Bowles probably wouldn't be too upset landing a potential franchise quarterback.
"Connor Cook is probably the worst-case scenario for the Jets, who will need a quarterback because neither Ryan Fitzpatrick nor Geno Smith will be successful in 2015, and Bryce Petty is just a backup-caliber quarterback. The issue is that by signing Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, New York has effectively taken itself out of contention for Cardale Jones and perhaps even Christian Hackenberg."
ESPN NFL Draft Insider Todd McShay disagrees, as he projects the Jets to take Jones with the No. 7 overall pick.
"First he has to win the Buckeyes' starting job in 2015," McShay wrote. "But if he can gain more experience and improve his ability to read defenses and take care of the football, he has the potential to rise up teams' draft boards. He has a big, strong frame and the arm strength to easily drive the football down the field."
I know Jets fans don't want to envision picking in the top ten yet again. But the quarterback of the future isn't on the roster in the present. To get one, Jets fans may have to suffer through another losing season. Hopefully, Cook, Jones or whoever is under center makes it all worth it.
