One of the most puzzling choices Joe Douglas made in the 2020 NFL Draft was the selection of Florida International quarterback James Morgan in the fourth round. While the pick was too early for a non-position of need, it’s easy to understand why Douglas did it when you consider his experiences at previous stops.
Douglas learned the need for a backup quarterback early in his career while working for the Ravens in 2000 and was reminded 17 years later when he was the Eagles’ director of player personnel. He saw Baltimore coach Brian Billick replace the struggling Tony Banks with Trent Dilfer, who went on to go 11-1 as a starter and win Super Bowl 35. Douglas then watched the Eagles win Super Bowl 52 with Nick Foles filling in for the injured Carson Wentz. Both seasons were saved by backups for different reasons – poor play in Baltimore vs. a season-ending injury in Philadelphia – but both proved to Douglas the need to keep a competent backup quarterback on the roster.
David Fales, the only experienced arm on New York’s roster before drafting Morgan, isn’t that quarterback for the Jets. Luke Falk and Josh McCown – who combined to go 0-6 for the Jets when Sam Darnold missed time the past two seasons – certainly weren’t, either. Douglas thinks he found the right backup in the 6-foot-4, 213-pound Morgan, though.
“I think he has the opportunity to shine in this offensive scheme,” Douglas said of Morgan after the draft. “This is a young man that is extremely intelligent. He has all the physical tools you’re looking for.”
Morgan possesses a lot of the traits the Jets need in a quality backup quarterback. He’s big, intelligent, throws well and plays best when he sits in the pocket. He threw for over 8,600 yards and 65 touchdowns split between two seasons at Bowling Green and two seasons at FIU and led the Golden Panthers to back-to-back bowl games.
He does have issues with accuracy and forcing throws, but the competitiveness, preparation and desire to learn should give Morgan a great chance to contribute early on in his career.
“From the discussions we’ve had, one thing I think I’ve tried to make clear to them is whatever role I may have, whether it’s helping Sam prepare, competing, whatever it may be, that’s out of my control,” Morgan said. “It’s up to them to decide. However it shakes out, I’m just here to help this organization win games.”
But why would Douglas draft a backup who has no NFL experience over a veteran quarterback on the free agent market? There are plenty of quality players who would be better suited to help Darnold prepare like Joe Flacco and Matt Moore. Veterans, however, would cost more money and offer less malleability.
Morgan’s estimated rookie contract will be around four years, $4 million, according to Over The Cap, and will only cost the Jets $788,816 against the 2020 salary cap. That’s a better long-term investment in a backup than Fales or any free agent.
Though 2019 proved paying for a second quarterback works – just look at the Titans with Ryan Tannehill and the Saints with Teddy Bridgewater – scheme-fit matters more. Morgan is young enough to remain confident (he said he can make “any throw on the field”) but also able to learn and absorb a new offense. He also fits the bill as a prototypical Gase quarterback who loves to air it out from the pocket. Morgan is a more enticing backup as well because he’s young – though Morgan is 98 days older than Darnold – with a lot more athleticism than older veterans.
The decision to draft a quarterback in the fourth round will likely continue to be scrutinized – especially if players the Jets’ passed on pan out better than Morgan or other draft picks – but Douglas made the move to ensure the offense can survive without Darnold. Whether or not Morgan is the right backup remains to be seen — and he still needs to beat our Fales — but the move itself fits with Douglas’ strategy for roster-building and it provides a better contingency plan for a Darnold injury than what the Jets previously had.