For the Jets, it's All About Getting a QB, and that Man Has to Be Marcus Mariota

Jets fans are excited about this offseason, and understandably so. The Jets have a new general manager, a new head coach, they’re swimming in salary cap money, and they possess the 6th pick in the April draft.

What’s not to love?

Friday’s trade to acquire 6-foot-4 receiver Brandon Marshall in exchange for a 5th round pick is a great, low-risk move. Those who suffer from recency bias will immediately say: He’s always hurt, he didn’t have a good year, he’s a locker room disaster, and he turns 31 in two weeks.

Reality: Yes, this will be his 4th team in 10 seasons, and he’s had his locker room issues (many wide receivers have), but he’s only missed three games in the last four years, he’s one of the best receivers at breaking tackles in the NFL, and most importantly, he’s only got one more guaranteed year on his contract (2015).

Why wouldn’t the Jets have made this move?

Percy Harvin, whom the Jets will probably cut now, was due more money, has missed more games in the last four years than Marshall and has been such a headache, he’s played for three teams in three years. Also, if the Jets kept Harvin, they would have had to give Seattle a 4th round pick in the 2015 draft. By cutting him, they only relinquish a 6th round pick. If he’ll restructure his contract – rumors so far say he won’t – then it makes sense to keep him. If not … there’s no way the Jets could go into the season paying $7.7 million to Marshall, $10.5 million to Harvin, and $6.5 million to Eric Decker.

So now you’ve got a 6-foot-4 receiver in Marshall, a 6-foot-3 receiver in Decker, and a 6-foot-6 tight end in Jace Amaro. They’ll need to bolster the OL in free agency, but the focus next week will certainly be defensive, starting at cornerback. Dee Milliner will return from an Achilles injury (his first two years have been awful) and so will 2014 draft pick Dexter McDougle (torn ACL before his rookie year started). But you still need two starters at corner, and fortunately, there are plenty options in free agency.

The Jets will also need to look at improving at safety and at edge rusher (they’ll all set at MLB after re-signing David Harris to a 2-year, $15 million deal). And yes, the news gets better: The Jets still have roughly $45 million in free agency to spend (assuming Harvin is cut). Here are a couple names that you can expect them to target:

CB
Darrelle Revis, Patriots (became a star with the Jets, but will be expensive if he hits the market like everyone thinks)
Antonio Cromartie, Cardinals (played with Bowles last year)
Kareem Jackson, Texas (GM Mike Maccagnan was part of the front office that drafted him to the Texans)
Chris Culliver, 49ers (Bowles knows him well from playing him 2x a year)
Cary Williams, Eagles (Bowles spent 2012 in Philadelphia, the Eagles added him a year later)

Edge Rusher
Brooks Reed, Texans (Maccagnan’s front office drafted him, and Reed is versatile and talented, but didn’t post big numbers)
Jerry Hughes, Bills (will be expensive, but one of the top 7 players in all of free agency)
Brian Orakpo, Redskins (Maccagnan’s early days were in Washington, so expect him to do his homework with old friends on the injury-prone star)
Brandon Graham, Eagles (Bowles spent 2012 in Philly, and Graham happened to have his best year that season)

S
Devin McCourty, Patriots (will command top dollar, probably out of the Jets’ price range)
Tashaun Gipson, Browns (2nd best safety on the market)
Jaiquawn Jarrett, Jets (had a strong season filling in for Antonio Allen, and Bowles knows him from Philly, but he’s probably best as a #3 safety)

After that, the biggest issue will be quarterback.

I’ve written it many times, but the new regime cannot trot out Geno Smith as the starter in September and expect a) to succeed, or b) fans not to revolt. Turnover machine as a rookie; turnover machine in year two. Benched multiple times. His sack rate was abysmal as a rookie and only slightly improved. Had one good (meaningless) game against the Dolphins in the season finale with nothing on the line. Whoop de damn do. Most importantly: New coaches never want to hitch their wagon to a failure. They always want to get their own guys in place.

The Jets have to get Marcus Mariota from Oregon. The stars are aligning for this to happen. After Winston goes 1st to Tampa, all signs point to Mariota sliding to 6th to New York. The Titans have showed no signs of taking him, nor does he fit the offense/coach’s offensive philosophy; the Jaguars, Raiders and Redskins took a QB recently, so there’s no need for one. The Jags/Raiders seem like teams that could slide down via trade; why would the Redskins help a team in their division by giving them a QB that would be a perfect fit for Chip Kelly’s system? He’s 3-1 against the Redskins.

That leaves the Titans or Jags or Raiders making a big trade, and at that point, the only question becomes: How much is Chip Kelly willing to give up? Nobody has any clue, and nobody will, until the deal happens.

How’s this: Sign Brian Hoyer as a veteran stop-gap to tutor Marcus Mariota and push him in camp. Geno Smith is a cheap #3 QB to have.

Playoffs?