While the Jets bring in young talent, the future of their oldest player remains up in the air.
Josh McCown, who just finished up his 16th NFL season and second in New York, is undecided on retirement. The quarterback released a statement in which he said he will “take more time before making a commitment to play in 2019.”
McCown, who will turn 40 in July, is entering free agent after signing a one-year, $10 million contract with the Jets in 2018. He backed up rookie Sam Darnold this past season but ended up playing in four games and starting three. McCown’s stats were unimpressive at best, as he went 0-3 as a starter and only threw one touchdown to four interceptions for 539 yards.
The Jets could benefit from keeping McCown, who played a big part in mentoring the young Darnold in 2018. But if the money isn’t right, the Jets might be better off bringing in a better player who could step in should Darnold get injured again.
If the Jets don’t even make McCown an offer, it could be the first sign he’ll retire after a long career in the NFL. There’s been talk of McCown entering the coaching ranks once he’s out of the league, so he could stay on with the Jets in more of a consultant/coaching role rather than a player.
