New York Jets should target Jared Goff in 2016 NFL Draft

Enough is enough already when it comes with the New York Jets and their contract negotiations with Ryan Fitzpatrick. If he doesn’t return, they should pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade to draft their next franchise quarterback in Jared Goff.

At the time of this writing, as per Mike Florio of NBC Sports, the Jets and Fitzpatrick are still not close at all in coming to terms on a new contract. It’s to the point of frustration and anger as all reports indicate the Jets even added a bit more money to their initial offer of $7M to bring him back into the mix next season.

Truth of the matter is, it’s getting ridiculous that Fitzpatrick is still holding out for more money due to everything he did with the Jets last season. He set a franchise record of 31 touchdowns which brought a memorable season to Gang Green but remember, the Jets still missed out on the NFL Playoffs due to a poor performance from him and their overall defense in a season finale with everything on the line.

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws a pass before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets hit defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson with their franchise tag and have until July 15th to come up with a new contract or he’ll play out the year and be as good as gone next offseason via free agency. Plenty of rumors have circulated that the Jets are shopping Wilkerson around looking for the right deal, which would of course include a first-round draft pick.

If you put everything together, the Jets will more than likely have to use Wilkerson in a blockbuster trade to move up in this year’s draft if they want a shot at either quarterback Jared Goff or Carsen Wentz. Goff has much more upside than Wentz and looks like he could be a franchise quarterback that would revitalize an entire organization.

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It’s about time the Jets followed what pretty much every other team has been doing for years now and do whatever it takes to grab a franchise quarterback they can be confident in.

One that can turn this franchise into a better direction for years to come and not be another “developmental” project that many hope and dream can be that definitive impact player.

That’s why if Fitzpatrick confirms that he won’t be back with the Jets next season, they should go all out in this year’s draft to land one of the top quarterbacks they can get in Goff. The kind of quarterback that has a high football IQ and can run this offense efficiently enough to win plenty of football games.

In his collegiate career at California, Goff totaled 12,195 passing yards, 977 completions, 96 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Make no mistake about it, he’s the real deal and with how well he can run a pro-style offense, would be brilliant on the Jets’ offense with how offensive coordinator Chan Gailey can utilize him under center.

For them to move up in this year’s draft would undoubtedly include Wilkerson, draft picks and maybe even another player for all we know. General manager Mike Maccagnan is a mastermind when it comes to all this and if it’s true Fitzpatrick ends up not being an option anymore, would have to come up with a second plan to make sure they’ll be fine at the most important position on the team. Trust in that Geno Smith and Bryce Petty aren’t the answer the Jets will need for success in 2016.

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Overall, Goff to the Jets would be a huge move to make and finally give them an option they can feel good about not just for next season but for many more after it. Fitzpatrick would be nothing more than a stop-gap anyway as there is no guarantee even if he did return, would replicate or exceed what he did last season. It’s about time the Jets made a huge move to draft a new surefire answer at quarterback the likes of which they haven’t had in quite some time.

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