Rex Ryan picks who should start at quarterback for the Jets

Former head coach Rex Ryan believes that only one man should start at quarterback for the New York Jets this upcoming season and that’s Sam Darnold.

Throughout Rex Ryan’s tenure with the New York Jets, he’ll always be remembered for being quite the defensive mastermind. When it comes to quarterbacks, however, that’s when things get a little shakey. Surely, most Jets fans remember the fallout Mark Sanchez had after his first few seasons in the league and then the disaster that was Geno Smith.

Not having an established and consistent franchise quarterback was one of the biggest reasons why the Jets decided to move on from Ryan. Fast forward a few years later, and Ryan still believes that similar to how it was back when he was running the team in 2009, the Jets need to go with a hotshot newly drafted quarterback instead of an aging veteran.

For the past few years now, the Jets have opted to start the regular season with a veteran quarterback instead of younger options on the roster. In 2015 and 2016, it was Ryan Fitzpatrick. In 2017 it was Josh McCown who is likely to start the upcoming season as well. Will the Jets break the mold and follow suit like other teams tend to do in the current situation they’re in?

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The Jets are just a few months in after making rookie quarterback Sam Darnold their future face of the franchise. They traded up in the 2018 NFL Draft to draft one of the Big 4 at quarterback and made Darnold the No. 3 overall pick.

Surely, a quarterback drafted that high shouldn’t have any issues in beating out someone like McCown or even Teddy Bridgewater who is coming back after being out of the game for almost two years due to a severe knee injury.

Ryan believes that the Jets shouldn’t limit themselves yet again in 2018 with a veteran quarterback under center. In an article written by Rich Cimini of ESPN, here’s why Ryan believes Darnold should start the regular season for the Jets:

“All three are decent quarterbacks, but [Josh] McCown has been a journeyman his whole life. What are you going to get there? I mean, forget it. That’s out. I mean, it’s [Teddy] Bridgewater or the rookie. If he has a good preseason, why not start the rookie?”

It’s all on Darnold to prove to head coach Todd Bowles that he’s more than capable of starting for the Jets. So far, McCown is still firmly on top of the depth chart at quarterback but perhaps within the next few weeks, Darnold can start making a name for himself.

Until then, Darnold has a fan in Ryan who believes if he lives up to the hype from his collegiate career in training camp and preseason action, it’s an easy decision to start the rookie and let the chips fall where they will. Otherwise, the Jets will continue limited themselves with the most important position on the team.