The New England Patriots handled the Jets easily on Thursday Night Football earlier this year, and they'll play them again in a Week 17 game that will be crucial for playoff seeding. That game will likely feature a new quarterback, too, with Tyrod Taylor having taken over for Justin Fields against the Ravens in Week 11.
After an injury to Taylor this past week, UDFA Brady Cook got his first action of the year but struggled badly.
The Jets extended their playoff drought to 15 seasons straight, one of the most demoralizing streaks in sports. Aaron Glenn and his new staff, no doubt, are looking to rebuild. They traded away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in exchange for a bundle of picks over the next few years, and they've got cash to spend, north of $100 million this offseason.
The Jets need help everywhere, and quarterback is no exception. The QB room has totaled 12 passing touchdowns to 8 interceptions. Fields and Taylor have added a combined five on the ground, but a 17:8 ratio through 13 games isn't much better. Fields finished with fewer than 55 yards four times in nine starts, while Taylor has only one 200+ yard game since being named QB1.
Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, Dante Moore of Oregon, and Ty Simpson of Alabama have been named as candidates through the draft, but New York may go a different direction, specifically a veteran who could be available in the spring.
Kyler Murray is a prime candidate to be the next Jets' QB. After recovering from injury, head coach Jonathan Gannon has opted to keep him on the sidelines in favor of Jacoby Brissett. The former Patriot has played exceptionally well this year, passing for over 300 yards a game with 16 total touchdowns to 5 interceptions.
Nonetheless, one would think the $230 million star would be starting when the time came.
It seems inevitable that Murray and the Cardinals will call it quits at the end of the year. Last season, he threw for just shy of 3,900 yards with 26 total touchdowns to 11 interceptions. He is a talented player, and a change of scenery may be the best way for that talent to re-emerge. Whether he is cut or traded, it seems unlikely that Murray will remain the QB if Gannon is around.
Aaron Glenn comes from Dan Campbell's staff in Detroit, and should Murray be signed, the rebuilds of the two teams would be eerily similar. The Lions built through the draft after acquiring a former No. 1 overall pick in Jared Goff, also quickly taking a top tackle prospect and tight end in the draft.
Murray is also an ex-No. 1 overall selection, and he has the running ability Glenn seems to like (see Justin Fields). The Jets selected Armand Membou and Mason Taylor in the draft, reflective of the Lions taking Penei Sewell and Sam Laporta early in their rebuild.
The Jets would not have to use a first-round pick on a quarterback should they bring in Murray, and could therefore use that first-rounder to build their defensive line. Miami's Ruben Bain Jr., Ohio State's Arvell Reese, and Clemson's Peter Woods could all be players to watch.
We've watched the Patriots struggle to contain rushing quarterbacks all season, Justin Fields included. A true dual threat like Murray would be the last thing New England needs in the division, and it would fast-track the Jets' rebuild in a massive way if it were to actually happen.
Some major contract rework would be needed for the Cardinals to cut Murray, but a trade is more feasible on the surface. It will be fascinating to see what his future looks like, as the Jets have the opportunity to shake up the division in a big way.