FLORHAM PARK, N.J. After months of intense speculation and polarizing debate among fans and pundits, the New York Jets have arrived at The Decision Part I, anyway. General manager Joe Douglas has decided to move on from quarterback Sam Darnold, who was traded Monday to the Carolina Panthers only three seasons into his pro career.
This was a difficult, multilayered decision, one that sparked debate within the organization. In the end, it feels like a mistake, a blown opportunity to cash in a winning lottery ticket.
The trade means the Jets are prepared to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, probably BYU s Zach Wilson, the Zac Efron look-alike with ridiculous arm talent who raised his stock with a fantastic season against one of the softest college schedules in the country.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. QB checkpoints: Timing and leverage are often two of the most important factors for striking deals, and they are at the heart of the Patriots current quarterback decision-making approach.
Coach Bill Belichick is sometimes fond of saying Last time I checked, our first game isn t until September. That basically explains why the Patriots are pressing the QB pause button at the moment, with owner Robert Kraft expressing support for Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham in 2021, while also acknowledging the team has to solidify the position long-term.
Here are three key checkpoints to watch:
CINCINNATI The Cincinnati Bengals are in one of the best positions heading into the NFL draft.
In 2020, Cincinnati selected its future franchise quarterback when they took Joe Burrow with the top overall pick. A four-win season netted the Bengals the No. 5 overall pick, which should allow Cincinnati to give Burrow some much-needed support.
That’s where things get interesting.
The Bengals, a franchise mired in a 5-year playoff drought, have a few pressing needs entering Burrow’s second season. Depending on what happens ahead of them in the draft, Cincinnati could help their second-year quarterback by improving his pass blockers, his receiving options or perhaps even trading down if the price is right.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. – As the legal tampering period begins within the NFL on Monday and teams can finally start to make more concrete plans to be on their roster, the turnover churn that will be the Detroit Lions can take some shape.
The Lions are not expected to be massive players in free agency due to a multitude of factors, including cap space, the reality of a rebuild and new general manager Brad Holmes’ stated plan he would prefer to build within the draft.
But Detroit does need players – the team, in reality, has either starting or depth questions at every position other than punter – and some of those solves will come from free agency. The Lions’ own free agents may take up some of those moves, as the team has already re-signed cornerback Michael Ford, and they’ve been active in the cut-player market, signing receiver Tyrell Williams.
PITTSBURGH Ben Roethlisberger is back, but in a week, at least one of the men who protected him the past six seasons likely won t be.
Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, 32, will hit free agency when the league year opens on Wednesday, and the Steelers didn t give him a new contract to keep him from entering the open market. His play along with the rest of the offensive line s dropped last season. That, coupled with the tight salary cap, paves the way for a youth movement within the often veteran unit.
Rebuilding that unit in the wake of Villanueva s likely departure and Maurkice Pouncey s retirement is a priority especially after a season in which the run game crumbled and Roethlisberger was forced to get the ball out of his hands quickly before the pocket collapsed.