New York Jets should not take a QB with No. 2 pick in 2021 NFL Draft

Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh have job security

At the end of the day, despite what fans or the media that covers the New York Jets think, the team should do what Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh feel is best for the team. This team is about to begin a rebuild that will likely not yield great results for at least two seasons. In the past, executives and coaches have selected quarterbacks when they feel their backs are against the wall and they need to bring some new life to their offense in order to keep their jobs.

In 2015, Lovie Smith and the Buccaneers took Jameis Winston first overall and got fired the following season. The next year, Jeff Fisher and the Rams traded up to select Jared Goff, but after Goff played terrible his rookie year, FIsher got fired. John Fox and the Chicago Bears traded up to take Mitch Trubisky in 2017, and he was fired the following season.

Hue Jackson and the Cleveland Browns took Baker Mayfield first overall in 2018 and Jackson was fired in the middle of the regular season. That same season, Todd Bowles and the New York Jets took Darnold to give the team a spark and a bright future but the team ultimately fired Bowles after Darnold’s first year as well.

It’s crazy to think about, but in 2018 there were rumors about the Ravens looking into letting go of John Harbaugh, who went 22-26 in the three seasons after their playoff appearance in 2014. The offense desperately needed a spark and drafting Lamar Jackson to replace Joe Flacco was just what the Ravens and Harbaugh needed. As a last resort, Jay Gruden and Washington took Dwayne Haskins in the first round of 2019. Before Haskins’ first start, Gruden got fired.

Despite how well Rookie of the Year favorite Justin Herbert played this year, he couldn’t stop Anthony Lynn from getting fired in Los Angeles. The team drafted Herbert to see if the team’s unfortunate luck in close games was because of aging quarterback Philip Rivers or on head coach Anthony Lynn.

Teams rush into taking quarterbacks when they are desperate for a last chance to keep their job.  Douglas and Saleh realistically have three seasons to show progress and that they could turn this team around. The only way they are on the hot seat is if the team continues to play at this level for the next two seasons.

There is no reason to rush a quarterback decision when the Jets have plenty of time to fix the other areas of the team. Whoever ends up being the long-term franchise quarterback for this team, using current resources to build the team up around him makes the most sense.

If the New York Jets want to have a successful rebuild, bringing a new rookie quarterback to replace Darnold this season would be a mistake.