Backup quarterback is one of those sneaky important positions the Jets failed to address the past two seasons.
They went 0-6 without Sam Darnold under center because the team lacked a truly competent backup quarterback. Jets GM Douglas understands firsthand the need for a viable starter, however. During his time in Philadelphia, the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2017 with Nick Foles after Carson Wentz tore his ACL at the end of the regular season.
Now, after a season in which David Fales and Luke Falk effectively tanked the Jets’ 2019 chances – yes, there were other reasons the team was bad – Douglas needs to go out and grab a veteran who fits Adam Gase’s offense well, can mentor Darnold and start in a pinch.
Enter Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco.
After all the best backups signed elsewhere, the only quality quarterbacks left on the market are either inexperienced, expensive former starters or aging veterans. Cam Newton and Jameis Winston aren’t signing with the Jets because they’re either too expensive, could supplant Darnold at any point and don’t fit Gase’s offensive scheme.
Flacco is the best fit given his ability as a pure pocket passer, his veteran knowledge and his connection to Douglas. Gase loves quarterbacks who can sit back in the pocket and make throws and Flacco would be the perfect fit if Darnold needed to miss time. His stats over the past two seasons haven’t been great – 62.9 completion percentage, 4,287 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the Ravens and Broncos – and he only played 17 games because of neck and hip injuries, but Flacco has the requisite skills to operate the Jets offense effectively should he be called upon.
Even more important than Flacco’s ability as a quarterback is his experience in the league. Darnold learned a lot from Josh McCown during his rookie season in 2018 and Flacco could add to those teachings with his knowledge coming from a winning organization in Baltimore. Flacco led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win in 2012 and even won Super Bowl MVP that season. That type of knowledge isn’t always available for young quarterbacks.
If there’s anyone who knows Flacco the best, it’s Joe Douglas, who worked as a scout for the Ravens for the first seven years of Flacco’s career in Baltimore. Douglas discovered Flacco in college and convinced the Ravens to draft the lanky Delaware quarterback with the 18th pick in the 2008 draft. Flacco could be easily recruited to work for someone who vouched for him early in his career.
The biggest issue with Flacco is his health. He’s only played 17 games in the past two years and both injuries landed him on injured reserve. One of the reasons the Broncos released him this offseason was because of a failed physical likely stemming from the neck injury that forced him to miss half of the 2019 season and Flacco might not be fully healthy yet. But besides the past two seasons, Flacco’s been pretty durable. The only other time he didn’t play a full season was when he tore his ACL and MCL during Week 11 of the 2015 season. While that may seem like a good thing, it appears Flacco’s age has finally caught up to him and he only recently turned 35.
Still, Flacco is the best option for the Jets despite his age and durability questions. The Jets sorely need a veteran backup to help Darnold develop and manage the team if needed, and Flacco would be worth whatever money the Jets would need to pay him – which likely wouldn’t be much. Flacco gets a bad rap for the past two seasons but his expectations would be adequate for a role on the Jets.