Would top quarterbacks refuse to play for the New York Jets?

With the New York Jets apparently in full on tank mode, could top quarterback prospects refuse to play for them in 2018? We explore the possibility…

It’s not often players simply refuse to play for a specific team in the NFL, but the New York Jets are so bad, they just might get the cold shoulder at the 2018 NFL Draft.

Specifically, the Jets face a remote possibility of the top quarterback in the class of 2018 refusing to play for them, similar to what we saw from Eli Manning in 2004. Manning had informed the San Diego Chargers at the time that he didn’t want to play for them, and even after drafting him and making him hold up a Chargers jersey on draft day, Manning got his wish and was traded.

The Chargers got Philip Rivers, and while they have been successful at times in the regular season during Rivers’ tenure, the Giants and Manning are two-time Super Bowl champions.

As far as a football and business decision, there’s no question that Manning made the right call looking back. But would anyone have the guts to do that in today’s day and age?

Without even trying to be mean about it, the Jets have the worst roster in the NFL and it’s not even particularly close, depending on what you think of the San Francisco 49ers’ group. The Jets don’t have an adequate no. 1 or even no. 2 receiver, nothing at tight end, and an aging Matt Forte at running back to go along with a bad offensive line.

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Defensively, they have a pair of talented young safeties and a couple of studs on the defensive line, but nothing much outside of that.

This could be a rough season for the Jets, and some have already predicted a possible 0-16 or 1-15 record.

If that happens, it wouldn’t be a shocker if the Jets decided to change things up with the coaching staff, which wouldn’t necessarily matter for a rookie quarterback but it’s a factor to consider.

It’s highly unlikely a scenario like this plays out, where a top quarterback prospect like Sam Darnold or Josh Allen refuses to play for any team, even the Jets. But, there could be a perfect storm of circumstances that would cause a top draft prospect to at least consider forcing the Jets to trade their draft rights and ultimately refuse to play with them.

The situation for the short-term isn’t going to be favorable in New York, and whatever player they have playing quarterback is going to have to buy in to a major rebuilding project.

If a high caliber player has the clout, we could see another Eli Manning situation in 2018…

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