The Jets might have drafted James Morgan hoping that he can develop into a reliable backup for Sam Darnold as soon as this upcoming season, but it would not be wise for New York to rely on a rookie if Darnold goes down at any point in 2020.
Fortunately for Joe Douglas and the Jets, there are still plenty of veteran backup quarterback options available for the taking. Cam Newton might seem like an intriguing candidate to fill the void, but we have already discussed why Newton to New York would be a disaster waiting to happen.
So, which other veteran quarterbacks could the Jets target as Darnold’s backup? Let’s take a look.
Joe Flacco
Flacco’s familiarity with Joe Douglas makes him the most likely candidate on this list to wind up with the Jets. Douglas discovered Flacco when he was at Delaware and played an instrumental role in Baltimore’s decision to select him in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Flacco does not come without some concerns, though. He appeared in only eight games with the Broncos a year ago due to a neck injury that required surgery in April. Considering his age (35) and the severity of the injury he dealt with, Flacco is going to have some medical hurdles to clear before signing with any team.
If Flacco can prove he is healthy, it’s safe to assume Douglas will at the very least give him a little bit of consideration as he continues his search for a backup quarterback.
Matt Moore
Moore has made a living as a reliable backup quarterback, serving in that role for three teams in 12 years. He not only has enough experience to serve as a mentor for Sam Darnold, but also enough familiarity with Adam Gase to run New York’s offense without missing a beat.
Moore spent 2016 and 2017 with Gase in Miami. In fact, Moore started the Dolphins’ 2016 AFC Wild Card matchup with the Steelers due to an injury to Ryan Tannehill. Miami didn’t win that game, but Moore was not the reason why. He performed admirably in relief of Tannehill at the end of the regular season when he succumbed to injury and carried that play over to the playoffs.
In Gase’s eyes, Moore might be the ideal candidate to come in and serve as Darnold’s backup. It remains to be seen if Moore has any desire to reunite with his former head coach, though.
Drew Stanton
Would Stanton give any consideration to a second stint with the Jets considering the way things played out for him in the Big Apple the first time around?
Five days after signing with the Jets in free agency in 2012, Stanton requested a release or trade out of New York after the acquisition of Tim Tebow. Stanton was ultimately shipped to the Colts in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick.
Stanton has not appeared in a game in two years and missed all of last year due to an injury. He has had success as a backup quarterback in the NFL, though, making him a player to consider.
Cody Kessler
Kessler’s NFL resume is not overly impressive, but he has proven to be a decent enough backup when his number is called. That, along with his previous team, could be enough to garner consideration from the Jets.
Kessler spent 2019 backing up Tom Brady in New England. He did not appear in a game for the Patriots but has knowledge of their offensive scheme. Bill Belichick often picks up former Jets players in free agency. Could Joe Douglas take a page out of the playbook of a division rival?
If anything, Kessler is better than David Fales and has enough experience to be considered somewhat reliable given his track record. Access to the minds of the Patriots would simply be an added bonus.
