Drafting Arkansas QB Taylen Green is the last thing Jets need

For the sake of their sanity and wallet, we hope that no New York Jets fans have begun dedicating part of their fan cave to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

The Jets remain linked to Simpson, who has been floated as everything from a mid-first-round prospect to an early Day 2 pick.

Enough has been said recently about Simpson, who led Alabama to the CFP quarterfinals in his lone year as the Crimson Tide’s starter.

Questions also persist about who the Jets could draft as a backup plan, whether it’s Miami’s Carson Beck or LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.

However, it feels like we’re not talking enough about which quarterbacks not to pick, and that list is headlined by Arkansas’ Taylen Green.

Jets must avoid drafting Taylen Green

Surprisingly, it has been a long time since the Jets potentially needed significant outside help to draft the quarterback they envisioned becoming their franchise quarterback.

Seriously.

Back in 2018, the Jets were essentially guaranteed to draft USC’s Sam Darnold at No. 3, following Baker Mayfield (No. 1 to Cleveland) and Saquon Barkley (No. 2 to the Giants).

Then came three years later. Trevor Lawrence was all but officially the Jaguars’ next quarterback when they secured the No. 1 pick, paving the way for the Jets to take Zach Wilson at No. 2 in 2021.

Assuming that the Jets are locked in on Simpson, they’ll either need to select him at No. 16 or trade up.

Green, on the other hand, is widely viewed as a Day 3 prospect. He’s also far too risky for the Jets to invest in, even if he falls to the fifth or sixth round.

Speed and athleticism only get a quarterback so far, even if Green is a freak. His 4.36 40-yard dash time set an NFL Combine record for the position.

If the Jets intend to draft a quarterback this year, they need someone with a far higher ceiling as a passer.

Even Green’s most loyal supporters can’t deny the red flags, including a 60.1% completion percentage and a 2.9% interception rate.

Compare that to Beck, who had a 2.3% interception rate in his three years starting at Georgia and Miami.

Speaking candidly, it would be absurd to draft a true developmental prospect like Green, especially with a head coach possibly on the hot seat.

Green has also refused to potentially switch positions and move to receiver, which in itself is especially concerning.

This is not a Lamar Jackson–Bill Polian situation. Jackson was a Heisman Trophy winner and a consensus first-round prospect.

Green, on the other hand, is likely a Day 3 selection. He doesn’t have the leverage or resume to be so stubborn.

None of this is personal against Green. The NFL is business. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Jets have been burned enough times by boom-or-bust quarterback picks, whether it’s in the top 10 or on the draft’s final day.

In other words, get ready for the Dolphins to take him and watch him eventually grow into an above-average quarterback.

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