Keidel: Jets, Giants Should Both Look To Add QBs In Draft
By Jason Keidel
» More Columns
While the staring contest between the Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick labors on, every football fan in Gotham wonders if the Jets should draft a quarterback over the next 72 hours.
Connor Cook? Paxton Lynch? There seems to be a long but thin buffet of QBs in this year's NFL Draft. After Jared Goff and Carson Wentz -- the twin cover boys of the first round -- there seems to be a steep drop in ability, or at least desirability.
Fitzpatrick is probably returning to the Jets, but for how long? And what if he gets hurt? Are you really confident in their dwindling prospects after the "Amish Rifle"? The main reason the Jets are eternal bridesmaids and the Patriots have their mail forwarded to the AFC title game is their respective situations at quarterback.
There are only seven active quarterbacks with a Super Bowl ring. Let's say seven more teams think they have the guy to get them there. That leaves over half the league either overtly or covertly desperate for a QB. And Gang Green has been leading that charge for decades.
MORE: NFL Greats The Jets Passed On In The Draft
But, frankly, are the Jets the only local team that should ponder a move under center?
No doubt Eli Manning has inherited the Teflon family gene. He doesn't miss years, games or even snaps. And remember, big bro Peyton didn't have any issues until his mid 30s. But shouldn't the Giants at least ponder his successor? Or someone to slide in for a month should his epic streak of games is snapped?
Eli is 35, and, presumably, as healthy as ever, ready to fling balls to Odell Beckham Jr., get flattened to the Meadowlands turf, then peel himself back up, with that endearing wince and shoulder shrug we've seen so many times.
Peyton also proved you can't play forever. Indeed, it seemed like one day he was unstoppable, riding the red carpet of his records on his way to the Super Bowl, the next day his defense carrying him back to the big game. All the while debate swirled about whether he or Brock Osweiler was the right man for the playoffs.
It's much simpler for the Jets. They haven't won a Super Bowl since man landed on the moon and haven't had an iconic QB since Joe Namath. While Fitzpatrick fits the bill for now -- should they finally sign him -- he is not the bearded face of the future. Bryce Petty? Who knows? Geno Smith? No way.
So any time Gang Green can get their hands on a signal caller, it's the only audible to make.
And for Big Blue? Does anyone even know who sits behind Eli on the bench, or next to him at QB meetings? Has anyone seen Ryan Nassib throw a ball? How about G.J. Kinne? Did you even know he existed?
MORE: New York Giants' Biggest Draft Busts
It may sound blasphemous to suggest someone will supplant Eli someday, as his career gives you a sense of eternity. And no one is rooting for him to fall, either by age or injury. Both the NFL and NYC are better because Eli has been here the last dozen years.
But there will come a day when he won't be able to get off the ground or get the ball to Beckham. And when that day comes, you'd like to think they have someone other than G.J. Kinne to take his place.
Follow Jason on Twitter at @JasonKeidel
