Is Cousins worth investing all that money in by the Jets?

As the New York Jets prepare to hit free agency ready to spend some serious money, would it be wise for them to break the bank for quarterback Kirk Cousins if he hits the market?

At this point in time, the New York Jets will have a little over $70 million in salary cap space to make some serious moves this offseason. It’s expected they’ll more than likely throw some offers at some of the potential free agent quarterbacks that can hit the market with, of course, Kirk Cousins being on top of their wish list.

Considering the monster deal that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo got this offseason ($137 million/five-year deal), it set the market for what Cousins will be looking for. Ideally, he’ll want to get an even bigger contract due to his experience and previous success. But should the Jets be willing to break the bank to acquire Cousins if he hits the market or ends up being franchise tagged by the Washington Redskins to be traded for the highest bidder?

Yes, the Jets are in dire need of a franchise quarterback but let’s be real here. General manager Mike Maccagnan might have a lot of salary cap space to work with but shouldn’t invest so much money into a quarterback considering all the other areas of need that need to be addressed. From their offensive line, cornerback, and defensive line situations, the Jets need a lot of help besides at quarterback.

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Cousins will more than likely want $30+ million per season in his next big mega-contract in order to be the highest paid player in the NFL. They’ll be a lot of teams that wouldn’t mind paying so much for Cousins due to everything he brings to the table but a lot of them are just a quarterback away from being legitimate contenders. The Jets? They’re far from such a status and won’t be close to being contenders again until at least another year or two.

Yes, the Jets should offer Cousins a deal that makes sense for both sides, even if it’s overpaying a bit to acquire his services. Anything that warrants spending that much of their salary cap space could prove to be so costly that it sets their rebuilding back a few years since they won’t be able to bolster other areas of the roster.

Cousins would be a solid quarterback for the Jets and would also be better than anyone they’ve had in a very long time under center. But for a team that is rebuilding through youth and spending wisely in free agency, if his price tag is too hefty, it might be best to look elsewhere in free agency or simply address the most important position on the team with their No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.