In less than two weeks, the Jets will be back in action with the beginning of training camp. Once the pads go on and the players begin to go after it under the hot summer sun, New York will be one step closer to kicking off what figures to be a promising 2019 season.
Throughout camp, the veterans and incumbent starters will focus on perfecting their craft and getting comfortable with new offensive and defensive schemes. The fringe players will spend training camp and the preseason fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster with the coaching staff keeping a watchful eye over them through it all.
In anticipation of camp beginning, Jets Wire will break down where New York stands at each position. From positions that are seemingly set in stone to those that will feature plenty of competition, there will be plenty to watch for throughout late July and early August.
Let’s begin with the quarterbacks.
The Starter
For the first time in a while, the Jets go into training camp without having to worry about a quarterback competition.
Sam Darnold is entrenched as New York’s starter heading into 2019. Coming off a promising rookie season, Darnold is expected to take the next step in his progression this upcoming season. Working with Adam Gase and Dowell Loggains will aid Darnold’s development, while new weapons Le’Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder will give the second-year pro some additional help.
Gang Green’s offense will go as Darnold goes this upcoming season. As long as he continues to develop as expected, the Jets are in good hands under center.
The Veteran
Trevor Siemian has been around the block enough to make him an ideal replacement for Josh McCown.
Filling McCown’s shoes as Sam Darnold’s mentor is no easy task, but Siemian is familiar with walking into tough situations. As a seventh-round pick of the Denver Broncos’ in 2015, the Northwestern product had to scratch and claw to hold onto a roster spot as a rookie. A year later, he became the Broncos’ starting quarterback due in large part to his diligence both on and off the field.
Siemian is only 27, but he has seen and done enough in the NFL to be considered a veteran. He will be pushed throughout the preseason, but his experience alone makes him a near-lock to begin 2019 as Darnold’s backup.
In The Hunt
Both Davis Webb and Luke Falk have the arm talent and football IQ to make a serious run at being Sam Darnold’s backup in 2019.
Webb spent last season with the Jets. He spent the first two months of the season on New York’s practice squad before being promoted to the active roster in November to serve as Josh McCown’s backup after Darnold was sidelined with an injury. Falk, meanwhile, spent 2018 with Adam Gase in Miami. However, he was placed on injured reserve with a wrist injury in October and never appeared in a game with the Dolphins.
Webb and Falk came to the NFL after putting up big numbers throughout their collegiate careers. Falk even set a handful of Pac-12 records playing at Washington State, as did Webb in the Big 12 when he was a freshman at Texas Tech. Neither has been able to translate that success to any kind of production in the NFL, though.
With a strong showing in training camp, winning New York’s No. 2 quarterback spot would be a major win for either Webb or Falk.
Final Analysis
There’s no debating Sam Darnold’s spot atop New York’s quarterback depth chart, but how will things shape up behind him?
Trevor Siemian is positioned very well to win the job as Darnold’s backup. However, the Jets have a decision to make once camp kicks off. Will they side with Siemian’s experience and potential mentorship of Darnold? Or, will they opt to go with a younger and possibly more talented option in Webb or Falk?
It’s a safe bet that Adam Gase and company will opt to go with Siemian behind Darnold. That’s no reason to tune out how Siemian, Webb and Falk perform throughout the preseason, though. Siemian might be a near-lock to win the job, but he’s not untouchable.
Even when New York’s starting quarterback is a given, there’s still competition to be mindful of. It’s going to take a lot, but Webb and Falk have a puncher’s chance at beating out Siemian.
