New York Jets

The New York Jets have been linked to BYU quarterback Zach Wilson as a potential No. 2 pick of the 2021 NFL draft and he could fit perfectly in the team's new offense.

"One of the reasons the Jets like Wilson is because he's an ideal scheme fit," Rich Cimini of ESPN reported. "They're installing the Shanahan version of the West Coast offense, which stresses play-action and a moving pocket. A quarterback must be able to throw on the run, and Wilson does that very well."

Jets head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur served on the same staff under Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers. LaFleur was the team's passing game coordinator over the past three years.

As Cimini noted, Wilson excelled in college in both rollouts and play-action passes, two staples of the offense.

While he wasn't facing a defense, the quarterback showcased this skill set with an amazing throw during his pro day after a fake and a roll to his left:

Wilson is coming off a breakout season in 2020, throwing 33 passing touchdowns with 10 rushing touchdowns and just three interceptions. His efficiency was especially impressive while posting a 196.4 passer rating that ranked second in the country behind only Alabama's Mac Jones.

It could be a nice change after Sam Darnold ranked dead last among qualified NFL players last season with a 72.7 quarterback rating.

Despite the upside, scheme is not everything when evaluating a quarterback. Wilson ranks fourth at his position by Bleacher Report's Scouting Department behind Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Trey Lance.

With a first-time head coach and first-time offensive coordinator leading the Jets, getting the best player could be more important than fitting personnel around an unproven scheme.

Former New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown sees a scenario where Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson can co-exist on the roster in 2021.

He told Rich Cimini of ESPN:

"Can it be done? Absolutely. In my mind, if you can't get the value now for him, that's absolutely how you go about it. I wouldn't even call it a competition. I would just say, 'We're going to go with Sam as the guy and bring Zach along.' If Sam knocks it out of the park, we'll re-evaluate where we are a year from now.

"Sam would embrace it and be helpful, but he'd also go out and work hard and try to make the most of the opportunity to play this year—and put it back on them and make them have to make a tough decision at the end of the year. I think, if that happens, really and truly, everybody wins."

The Jets have explored the trade market for Darnold all offseason but have not found an offer to their liking for the 2018 No. 3 overall pick. It's considered a foregone conclusion that the team selects Wilson with the second pick in this month's draft, which would ostensibly mean the end of Darnold's time as Jets' starting quarterback.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Jets are open to keeping Darnold on the roster, which seems both understandable and not entirely prudent at the same time.

Darnold has been perhaps the NFL's worst quarterback over the last three seasons. He's ranked no higher than 30th in Football Outsiders' quarterback metrics in any season, and he was ahead of only Carson Wentz in DYAR in 2020. While the Jets failed to provide Darnold with competent coaching or quality playmakers, he has flashed little ability to improve his surroundings with his talent.

Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN spoke to NFL general managers who seemed to indicate the Jets' best-case scenario for Darnold would be getting a third-round pick. That seems like a fine outcome in terms of straight-up value, but Wentz just went for a third-rounder and a conditional second-round pick that could turn into a first.

The new Jets brass may rightfully see Darnold as a distressed asset they could coach up and make more valuable in 2021. However, that would come at the cost of Wilson's development and put the Jets in an awkward contractual pickle. The team will almost certainly not pick up Darnold's $18.9 million fifth-year option, but any scenario in which Darnold shows tangible improvement would force the Jets to use their franchise tag in 2022 on a player they're seeking to trade.

Everyone cutting their losses and moving on seems like the most sensible move—even if McCown is right about Darnold being willing to come in and compete.

There reportedly remains a chance that Sam Darnold will be the New York Jets' starting quarterback again in 2021.

During an appearance on SportsCenter on Saturday, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler said Darnold is "still a realistic option" for the Jets at quarterback next season.

Fowler added that it isn't out of the question that the Jets keep Darnold and select a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

New York selected Darnold with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, but his career has largely been a disappointment thus far, especially in comparison to other quarterbacks from that draft class, such as Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns.

In 38 career starts, Darnold is just 13-25, and he is completing just 59.8 percent of his passes for 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions while also rushing for 417 yards and five scores.

Injuries have been an issue for Darnold, as he has never played in more than 13 games in a season, but he has been underwhelming even when healthy.

Perhaps some of that can be blamed on a lack of weapons, as Darnold has had some of the worst offensive supporting casts in the NFL since entering the league.

Things are looking up a bit in that regard entering 2021, as the Jets signed former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis to go along with Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder, plus they signed former San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman.

If the belief within the organization is that Darnold can be a top quarterback with some help, the Jets could keep Darnold and either trade down from No. 2 or use their pick on a top skill-position player like LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase or Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

New York also owns the No. 23 overall pick, which could be used on a running back such as Alabama's Najee Harris or Clemson's Travis Etienne.

Regardless of whether the Jets keep or trade Darnold, quarterback is a strong option at No. 2 overall as well. Assuming the Jacksonville Jaguars take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence first, the Jets would have their pick between BYU's Zach Wilson, Ohio State's Justin Fields, North Dakota State's Trey Lance and Alabama's Mac Jones.

The opportunity to land a franchise quarterback doesn't come along very often, so if there is any belief within New York's front office that one of the aforementioned quarterbacks will be a better pro than Darnold, then taking that quarterback and flipping Darnold for additional picks is the way to go for a team that has not reached the playoffs since 2010.

The New York Jets reportedly are open to keeping Sam Darnold on their roster, even if they wind up taking a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in next month's draft. 

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Jets have "every option in consideration" and remain high on Darnold's skill set.

The Jets are viewed as a near-lock to take a quarterback at No. 2, with BYU's Zach Wilson emerging as the overwhelming favorite in recent weeks.

Darnold, the fifth pick of the 2018 draft, has been one of the league's worst quarterbacks over his three NFL seasons. The Jets have compiled a 13-25 record with Darnold as their starter, with Football Outsiders' metrics ranking him no higher than 30th in any season.

Carson Wentz was the only quarterback with a lower DYAR than Darnold in 2020.

If the Jets plan on taking a quarterback next month, it would make little sense to keep Darnold around—even if it meant selling low on his talent. The Jets have an $18.9 million option on his contract for 2022, which they will almost certainly not exercise. Even if Darnold were to win the starting job, the Jets would be in a position where they would have to use the franchise tag or give Darnold a long-term contract.

The best foot forward for the franchise likely would be to hand the keys to the franchise over to their new starter and use the draft capital acquired for Darnold to begin building an offense. Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN reported two general managers said they'd give up a third-round pick to get Darnold, though others said they thought that was too high.

If the Jets can get a third-rounder that turns into second if Darnold hits certain performance thresholds, that should be considered a win. Keeping him around almost certainly ensures he would leave the Jets next offseason without compensation. 

The New York Jets have held on to Sam Darnold throughout the offseason despite conventional wisdom having them taking BYU's Zach Wilson with the second pick in next month's draft.

We may now have a better understanding as to why.         

Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN reported Monday that she spoke to several general managers who said they would not be willing to give up more than a third-round pick in exchange for Darnold. One said a late third-round pick would even be a "little rich" for the USC product.

Darnold has been one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks over the last three seasons. Football Outsiders' metrics have ranked him no better than 30th among qualifying quarterbacks in any of the last three campaigns, and only Carson Wentz had a worse season in 2020. Pro Football Focus has given him a grade of no better than 64.7, tantamount to a backup quarterback.

The Jets are 13-25 with Darnold as a starter.

Some of Darnold's struggles are not directly his fault. Adam Gase was perhaps the NFL's worst coach over the last two seasons, and Jets management put together a poor supporting cast that failed to protect Darnold or give him playmakers on the edges. It would have been hard for any quarterback to succeed in those circumstances.

Some teams may see Darnold, still only 23 years old, as an interesting buy-low target. However, he's in the final year of his rookie contract and would make $18.9 million with his fifth-year option—a number no team would be willing to pay given his pro resume. Any franchise that trades for Darnold would be doing so on a one-year flier and then be subject to using the franchise tag or signing him to a long-term contract if he performs well.

The going rate for a young quarterback, even one who's not particularly good, remains high. Wentz will net the Eagles a first-round pick in 2022 if he plays 75 percent of snaps for the Colts next season (or 70 percent and Indianapolis makes the playoffs). 

It seems the NFL has a significantly lower value on Darnold than Wentz.  

There has already been plenty of movement in the top 10 picks of the 2021 NFL draft, but don't expect the New York Jets to move out of their No. 2 slot.  

Peter King reported in his Football Morning in America column that he hears Jets general manager Joe Douglas "is standing firm and is not interested in trading the second pick."

This comes after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Friday the San Francisco 49ers traded the No. 12 pick of this year's draft, first-round picks in the 2022 and 2023 drafts and a third-round pick in the 2022 draft to the Miami Dolphins for the No. 3 pick 

Miami didn't stand pat as the Philadelphia Eagles announced they traded the Nos. 6 and 156 picks of this year's draft to the Dolphins for the Nos. 12 and 123 picks, along with a 2022 first-round pick.

Logic dictates the Jets are going to take a quarterback with that No. 2 pick.

After all, Sam Darnold has a club option for the 2022 season and, with a 13-25 record as a starter, hasn't exactly lived up to the elevated expectations that were in place after New York selected him with the No. 3 pick of the 2018 draft.

What's more, the Jets could land quite the haul from a quarterback-needy team and still select a different position in the top 10 with a potential trade if they weren't looking for a signal-caller.

King suggested the Carolina Panthers may want to move up from the No. 8 spot. Such a trade could give the Jets two first-round picks this year, three in 2022 and two in 2023, which has to at least be tempting to Douglas as he looks to build a winner out of a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs since the 2010 campaign.

Still, the fastest way to solidify a long-term winner is finding a franchise quarterback who can elevate those around him for a decade.

Perhaps that is what the Jets see in BYU's Zach Wilson, Ohio State's Justin Fields or even North Dakota State's Trey Lance, who will likely all be available after the Jacksonville Jaguars select Clemson's Trevor Lawrence at No. 1.

If that is the case, Douglas probably isn't moving his No. 2 pick.

BYU quarterback Zach Wilson dazzled with his arm strength during his pro day Friday, which should further solidify his status as a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Wilson, who shot up draft boards during a 2020 season when he racked up 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions, has showcased a unique ability to make deep, accurate throws on the run, and the Cougars staff made sure to put that on full display Friday.

Given the high-end success in recent years of younger quarterbacks like the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson, all of whom can escape the pocket and deliver strikes on the run, Wilson being able to heave the ball deep down the field, even when forced to throw across his body, is going to attract the attention of scouts.

Wilson would have needed to totally flop in his pro day throwing sessions in order for his draft stock to be affected, and that didn't happen. The arm talent matched his eye-popping numbers from his junior season.

There may still be questions asked by NFL front offices about 2019, when the 6'3", 210-pounder finished with just 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine games after offseason shoulder surgery, but everything that's happened since the start of 2020 suggests he's an elite draft prospect.

So the question now focuses on where he'll land when the draft kicks off April 29. The tea leaves are currently pointing toward the New York Jets, who own the second overall pick, with the Jacksonville Jaguars expected to select Clemson signal-caller Trevor Lawrence at No. 1.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported Jets general manager Joe Douglas was "high" on Wilson ahead of the pro day, and the team sent a notable contingent to watch the 21-year-old Utah native throw in person:

Wilson didn't tip his hand about a preferred destination, saying he'd be "happy to play with any team that drafts me," but did praise the Jets when asked about their potential interest.

"Great staff. Love those guys," he told reporters. "Joe Douglas is a great guy. It was good to see him out here. They've got a good thing going."

If the Jets do select Wilson, that would likely mean incumbent starter Sam Darnold, the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft, could become available in a trade before the start of the 2021 season.

Should New York go in a different direction, the San Francisco 49ers would move into the wheelhouse for the BYU quarterback. The Niners swung a trade earlier Friday to acquire the third overall pick from the Miami Dolphins, a move that strongly suggests they're in the QB market.

With three quarterback-needy teams atop the draft order, it's hard to imagine Wilson waiting too long to hear his name called in Cleveland next month.

He should be a Week 1 starter and an Offensive Rookie of the Year contender wherever he ends up.

The New York Jets have reportedly signed running back Tevin Coleman to a one-year, $2 million deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

The veteran will be joining a running back group that includes La'Mical Perine and Ty Johnson, and he will play in a familiar offense from his San Francisco days under new head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who were both on the Niners' coaching staff. 

Coleman, 27, appeared in just eight games for the 49ers last season, rushing for 53 yards (1.9 YPA). He added four receptions for 34 yards. 

After a promising start to his career in Atlanta, highlighted by 800 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns in 2018, he failed to make a similar mark in San Francisco, rushing for 544 yards and six touchdowns (14 games) in 2019. 

With Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson still in San Francisco, Coleman was deemed expendable. 

It's unlikely he'll be a significant upgrade for a Jets team that finished 23rd in rushing last season (105.2 YPG). Johnson and Perine combined for just 486 rushing yards and three touchdowns last year. The team's current running back group is unlikely to strike fear in the hearts of opposing defenses. 

That doesn't mean the Jets are done upgrading the position, however, with April's NFL draft another outlet to add a playmaker in the backfield. The Jets have more than a few holes to fill, so running back may be somewhat down the list. 

If nothing else, Coleman offers the team a short-term stopgap who knows the offense and will be steady, if unspectacular, in 2021. If he can stay healthy—something he struggled with during his time in San Francisco—he should be a nice, low-cost addition.