When speaking to the media at his end of year press conference, Dolphins GM Chris Grier took the opportunity to commit to Tua Tagovailoa as his starting quarterback. Jets GM Joe Douglas opted not to do the same with Sam Darnold.
Douglas was steadfastly non-committal, saying “we have a lot of decisions to make” when asked if Darnold would be the team’s quarterback in 2021, via Connor Hughes of The Athletic (Twitter link). Hughes notes that Douglas did say he had a good conversation with Darnold on Monday, and that he thinks the former second overall pick has a “bright future.” Additionally, Douglas said he thinks Darnold is going to be a “great quarterback,” but wouldn’t commit to him because he doesn’t have a coach yet, Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
We heard just recently that the Jets plan on either trading Darnold or the second pick in the 2021 draft to a team looking to take a quarterback, so don’t expect them to stand pat and add an offensive lineman or weapon for Darnold. Speaking of that coaching search, Douglas said the team is going to cast a “very wide net,” and will consider coaches from the college ranks with no NFL experience.
They’re looking at candidates on both sides of the ball, and just yesterday requested interviews with a couple of young defensive coordinators. Of course, quarterback isn’t the only thing Douglas needs to shore up this offseason. To that end, Douglas said re-signing impending free agent safety Marcus Maye is a “priority” for him.
Maye started 16 games each of the last two seasons, and missed only a couple of defensive snaps this year. The 2017 second-round pick just played out the end of his rookie deal and is surely looking to cash in. We heard back in November that Maye could seek a deal in the range of $7MM annually. The Jets discussed trading him this past offseason, but clearly the team wants him back after his strong campaign.
One last note just to ruffle some feathers of Jets fans, Douglas said that firing head coach Adam Gase was a difficult decision for him. “This was hard for me. I know people outside this building, they may not see it at this time, but he did some really good things here that will help us moving forward,” Douglas said via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
This is the second article in 2 days that states that Darnold was the second overall pick in the draft… He was THIRD… Barkley was second
what? no it doesn’t. it says they’ll either trade Darnold or their 2nd overall pick in the upcoming draft
second paragraph calls him former 2nd overall pick.
and that he thinks the former second overall pick has a “bright future.
That’s an ugly interview with Douglas. If he truly think Darnold is going to be a great QB, then he has to start. Don’t hire a coach that disagrees with you, on Day 1, on the most important position on the field, let alone the most important draft decision.
FWIW, that should’ve been the follow-up question from the press-Would you hire a coach that doesn’t start Darnold?
Joe has to pomp that trade value so he needs to talk out both sides of his mouth
Read Johnsons want a guy who can run EVERYTHING. All Phases, teach the players and coaches. So they are looking at coordinators, AGAIN?!? Get ready for another two or three years of a learning curve if they go that route AGAIN. We need a proven general not a wing and a prayer. New METS owner quoted as saying ” I don’t want a guy learning on my dime” Listen up swinging Johnsons
Virtually any HC candidate that has experience was fired from his organization because the owners thought they sucked. Is that a ringing endorsements for you? I’d father have an up and comer like Aaron Glenn
So I’m looking at how the Jets thought that Gase was a good coach with a bad team, and that hiring Gase would succeed. Since then, Dolphins 20-12 with the Jets 9-23.
Good job Jets!
Good thing that Sexy Rexy Ryan and Mark “Sanchize” led the Jets to all those Superbowls, because if not for that, this thing with Gase and Darnold would be heartbreaking.
Dolphins tanked for a year to get Tua. He’s looking more like a Dwayne Haskins than a Josh Allen to me.
Yep they kind of tanked. I actually got my numbers wrong, but they were still much better than the Jets.
Here’s the thing. We didn’t talk about how great we are or how we drafted a legend like your team did with Darnold and a while back with Mark “Sanchize”.
And it wasn’t our media that talked all that stuff about how Gase was an excellent coach that was stuck with a bad team in Miami and that a good franchise like the Jets would give him the chance to show how great a coach he is. Seems like your media and beat writers got that wrong…along with the Jets.
If ever there was a player who needed a “get out of jail free” card it’s Sam Darnold.