The Jets enter 2014 in the same spot they’ve been the past two years — still searching for an answer at quarterback.
Despite rookie Geno Smith’s strong finish to the season, general manager John Idzik said the Jets will look to upgrade the positions this offseason.
“We’re all excited about having Geno as part of the Jets,” Idzik said. “But we will always look to improve every position in any manner we can. That doesn’t change in 2014. We’ll look at quarterbacks. Yes, we will look at quarterbacks.”
Smith finished on a strong note with two solid games to end the year, but he had 25 turnovers this season and had a brutal three-game stretch in the middle of the season. Idzik and coach Rex Ryan were complimentary of Smith, but would not say he would be the starter when the team opens training camp. He said no one’s job is guaranteed.
“I guess what we’re saying is let’s just let this thing unfold,” Idzik said. “That’s been our thought process all along. Yeah, we’re satisfied with the likes of D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold, and we’re satisfied with Geno. By that, I mean we’re happy that they’re part of the Jets. I don’t think we anoint anything. Let’s just let 2014 take its shape. We’ll be able to assess that as we go forward through training camp and eventually as we get into the regular season.”
It does not sound like Smith will have to compete with Mark Sanchez for the starting job. Sanchez has three years remaining on his contract and is due to make $9 million next season. The Jets are expected to cut him, though, before paying him a $2 million roster bonus due in March. When asked about Sanchez’s future with the team, Idzik gave a telling non-answer.
“We’ll get to that in time,” Idzik said. “He is a Jet. We consider all our guys Jets until we make a decision or something happens that changes that. With Mark, I met with him yesterday as well. Our focus is to get him healthy just as it has been really the entire season and then we’ll take it from there.”
The Jets could bring in a veteran to compete with Smith such as Matt Schaub, who is expected to be released by the Texans, or maybe trade for the Redskins’ Kirk Cousins. They also may address the position in the draft again.
Smith showed promise at the end of the year as he cut down on turnovers and began running the ball effectively, but the 21 interceptions are hard to ignore. Ryan said he was pleased with how much better Smith became at protecting the ball in the pocket. Smith had four fumbles this year, but only one in the second half of the season.
“I thought Geno improved by leaps and bounds in this area as the season went on,” Ryan said, “not necessarily like some of the interceptions happen, but the way he protected the football in the pocket is something that is hard to teach a lot of times but this man really took to it.”
The Jets enter the offseason with money to spend (expected to be about $40 million under the salary cap) and plenty of draft picks (possibly 10 when compensatory picks are awarded). They need to upgrade wide receiver, tight end, the offensive line and the secondary.
“We will have some flexibility going into free agency and the offseason and we’re going to use all those tools that we spoke of before,” Idzik said. “I think it will be a challenge for our personnel staff. They’re excited about it both from a draft standpoint and free agency. We feel like we do have some maneuverability going into 2014.”