Josh McCown will easily be Jets Week 1 starter

No matter who the New York Jets select at quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft, expect to see Josh McCown under center come Week 1 of the regular season.

Another year of New York Jets football and the same recurring conundrum presents itself to the fanbase. Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are assuredly on the cutting block. Once again, the Jets find themselves in what seems to be the same situation in 2018. Who in the world is going to start at quarterback this season for Gang Green?

Kirk Cousins chose to take less money in order to play for the Super Bowl contending Minnesota Vikings. Therefore, general manager Mike Maccagnan pulled the trigger on signing Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater to one-year deals respectively. While these moves made sense, McCown obviously is not the long-term solution to fill the void for a franchise quarterback. A spot that has been vacant since Chad Pennington wore the Green and White over a decade ago.

However, despite the abysmal expectations for the 2017 season, McCown showed that he in fact still had gas in the tank, and exceeded expectations, passing for nearly 3,000 yards and an 18:9 touchdown to interception ratio.

More from The Jet Press

• NY Jets should try to sign Kenny Golladay in free agency
• NY Jets: Jonnu Smith would be a smart free-agent target
• NY Jets: 3 non-quarterback trade targets on offense
• NY Jets expected to be ‘much more aggressive’ in free agency this year
• NY Jets: Patriots will not use the franchise tag on Joe Thuney

It seems as if the Bridgewater signing was the Jets last hope in acquiring a quarterback out of the cornucopia of veteran free agent options. Bridgewater undoubtedly has the talent to be a viable starting option in the NFL. However, the Vikings thought otherwise by letting their former 1st rounder walk in free agency.

After a disastrous knee injury that sidelined Bridgewater for all of the past two seasons, the former Viking gunslinger must prove to Todd Bowles and company that he can still perform at the level he displayed in the past.

As for who the Jets will select with the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, it seems that experts and fans alike have conflicting opinions on who they will snag. Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen will be presumably taken by the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants at 1 and 2, respectively. That leaves the Jets with the likes of Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield to choose from when they’re on the clock.

In the past, quarterbacks thrown to the wolves almost immediately in the NFL rarely succeed. Highly coveted rookie quarterbacks like DeShone Kizer and Mitchell Trubisky struggled immensely in their rookie years. Yet, the method of developing young quarterbacks on the bench has proven to work. No matter who the Jets take, new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates is an offensive guru and is surely itching to groom an unpolished rookie.

McCown is primed to take the reins as the Jets starting quarterback. Due to his familiarity, leadership skills, and the success he had in 2017. Then again, this is the big apple, and absolutely anything could unfold from now until early September but make no mistake about it, it’s likely McCown picks up exactly where he left off from last season.