The importance of Josh McCown in 2017

The New York Jets didn’t bring in quarterback Josh McCown simply to start in 2017. He was brought in with one thing in mind to accomplish.

During the offseason, the New York Jets needed a veteran quarterback as another mentor in the building for their two young quarterbacks. With Ryan Fitzpatrick on the way out after his disastrous season, the Jets knew it was imperative to bring someone in with a vast amount of experience to ensure that Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg have someone there helping them all along the way.

McCown is an important piece of the puzzle in the grand scheme of things for the Jets. His attitude, easygoing personality, and ability to add a veteran presence to the locker room of the Jets is crucial during this rebuilding process. The Jets cut a plethora of players this offseason due to underperforming and well, clashing attitudes that again, ruin the overall culture that both general manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles are trying to establish.

Looking beyond McCown’s terrible win-loss record over the years, he brings a lot to the table for the Jets. He has 14 years experience under his belt and every team he’s been a part of all preach the same message. One that speaks highly of McCown’s leadership, his ability to coach and train, and above all else, his character. McCown is not going to bring any off-the-field distractions to the Jets.

Yes, if for any reason the Jets need to turn to McCown to get the job done from under center this season, they’re in for a lot of trouble. But if McCown is able to turn this offseason into a positive one of coaching, training, and mentoring both Petty and Hackenberg, that will be a major positive not just for this upcoming season but for the future.

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The Jets plan to have an open quarterback competition in training camp to determine their next starter for the most important position on the team. By all accounts, Petty or Hackenberg have a good shot at starting a new era under center and hopefully prove their worth. Sure, McCown also has a fair shot at earning that spot but at the end of the day, that’s not what anyone is banking on.

If McCown is able to make things easier for Petty and Hackenberg to grasp while also breaking down things they need to do in order to succeed, that will be worth every penny in his $6M one-year contract. To help develop their mechanics, footwork, and everything else they’ll need to succeed is exactly why McCown was brought in. He might not have an amazing track record of success but this is something that is beyond wins and losses.

Since the Jets boldly opted not to take a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft, it proves they’re all in on one of their two developing quarterbacks. Perhaps this was the plan all along since it’s time the Jets pushed the envelope with Petty and Hackenberg and are putting them in a position to see what they have learned up until this point. Now with McCown in the mix and doing his part with mentoring, he could be the catalyst in the emergence of one of these young players to finally be the next franchise quarterback of the Jets.