It always seemed far-fetched to think that the Jets were content with a rookie serving as Sam Darnold’s backup this upcoming season.
When New York selected James Morgan in the 2020 NFL Draft, many jumped to the conclusion that he would instantly assume the No. 2 spot on the depth chart in his rookie year. However, selecting Morgan in the fourth-round was a long-term move by general manager Joe Douglas, not one that was going to drastically alter the quarterback room right away.
David Fales, while well-versed in Adam Gase’s offense, lacked the in-game experience to give the Jets any reason to think he could make an impact in the event of an injury to Darnold. New York learned what happens when you don’t have a reliable backup quarterback the hard way last season when Darnold succumbed to mononucleosis. Trevor Siemian suffered a gruesome season-ending leg injury and his successor, Luke Falk, looked like a deer caught in the headlights every time he took the field. Without Darnold, the Jets did not win a single game and any hope of contending for a playoff spot went out the window.
The signing of veteran signal caller Joe Flacco gives New York exactly what it needs out of its backup quarterback. Not only will Flacco serve as a valuable mentor for Darnold, but he also has enough gas left in the tank to pilot the offense without much of a drop-off in production if Darnold is forced to miss any time in 2020.
Adding a veteran backup behind Darnold was always part of the Jets’ offseason plan — the structure of Fales’ contract is proof of this. Even with Morgan in the fold at the position, Douglas did not stray away from his goal of bringing in an experienced passer to strengthen New York’s depth. It was a no-brainer for him to do so, especially given the opportunity to add a player with Flacco’s track record.
The fact of the matter is that the Jets did not select Morgan with their eyes on instantly inserting him as the No. 2. That would be a lot to ask of any rookie quarterback, especially one from a non-Power 5 school selected in the middle rounds. If Fales’ lack of experience was the reason why the Jets yearned for more at quarterback, why would Morgan, who has yet to take a single professional snap, be the one to solidify the position in 2020?
Morgan has a very good chance to be New York’s backup quarterback of the future. That is not an illustrious role, but one he seems well-suited for once he gets a little seasoning at the next level. Learning from both Darnold and Flacco will be a boon for the Florida International product and will prepare him for the rigors of running an NFL offense in a pinch sooner rather than later.
Just don’t expect him to have any sort of impact for Gang Green this upcoming season. The No. 2 spot on the depth chart is simply not in Morgan’s immediate future.