Brad Penner | AP Photo
What's up with the Jets?
It's Saturday, which means it's once again time for a Jets mailbag. We compiled questions via Twitter submission, now we'll answer them below.
Have a question on your mind we didn't address? Send over an email.
On tap today? Who the Jets hope will start at quarterback next year, any possible trade bait, where the Jets can find their tight end, and more.
Who's going to be the Week 1 starter?
HUGHES: I don't see Tony Romo as a realistic option. I just don't. He's either going to play for a winner, or redo his deal and stay in Dallas. Bryce Petty will compete, but I don't see him getting the job.
Tyrod Taylor is an option of he leaves the Bills. So is Brian Hoyer. I think the most likely scenario is a guy you don't have mentioned: Mike Glennon. The Jets seem to have their eyes on him.
Light at the end of the tunnel?
HUGHES: It's so funny. I get a "When will the Jets stop being awful?" question each week. The sooner the Jets commit to a full-on rebuild, the quicker the turnaround will be. If they keep with this "competitive rebuild" nonsense, they'll muddle around in .500 territory. They'll be right on the cusp of the playoffs/first-round knockout at best, with a 5-11 season being the worst. They'll beat the bad teams. They'll lose to the good ones.
As for decent offensive players ... they've got a few. Quincy Enunwa is legit, and Robby Anderson an emerging star. They aren't sexy positions, but James Carpenter and Brian Winters are solid, too.
A quarterback? Well, half the league is searching. It's not an easy find.
Getting offensive
HUGHES: The Jets have so, so many holes. They can go anywhere with the No. 6 pick. It's going to be the best play available at a position of need. So think offensive tackle, receiver, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, cornerback, quarterback or safety. I could see them going offense, sure. But it depends what happens picks 1-5.
Here's the thing: The Jets are probably going to find a solid player in the first round. Wrote about it here: Maccagnan rarely misses in the first.
A.J. McCarron trade?
HUGHES: Probably a conditional third or fourth? I've heard McCarron's name mentioned a lot from the fan base, but I don't get it. Why give up something for him, when you can get essentially the same quarterback in Mike Glennon for free? Personally, I feel Glennon's ceiling is much higher than McCarron's, too.
Where will the Jets find a tight end?
HUGHES: The Jets spent a ton of time with the tight ends at the Senior Bowl. Depending on how the draft shakes out, I could see them snagging one in the second or third round. I don't think O.J. Howard will be there, but maybe Evan Engram (Mississippi State) or Gerald Everett (South Alabama)? Everett measured in a bit small at the Senior Bowl (6-2 when listed as 6-4), so he could slide.
Free agency could be an option, too. The Packers may let Jared Cook go. Same with the Patriots and Martellus Bennett.
Don't forget about Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Talked to him towards the end of the year and he's very confident in himself. He thinks he can be the Jets' "answer" at tight end.
Trade bait?
HUGHES: If you're thinking of someone who will net a first or second round pick, the player isn't there. The Jets don't have any expendable pieces. Maybe they'd want to move Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall or Sheldon Richardson, but those guys don't have immense value.
Decker could maybe net a fourth, but Marshall nothing more than a fifth or sixth. Talking to people at the Senior Bowl, they felt Sheldon was worth even less than that. He's a two-strike player coming off a year where he had 1.5 sacks.
The only players other teams would want -- Darron Lee, Leonard Williams, for example -- aren't guys the Jets will move.
Who do the Jets want to be the starting quarterback?
HUGHES: Not sure who the five options are, but I can tell you they hope it's Christian Hackenberg. Why wouldn't they? Mike Maccagnan used a second round pick on him. If he turns out to be their franchise quarterback, he looks brilliant. If not, he's a bum.
Same goes for Bryce Petty. Anytime there's an in-house option, that's the preference. Whether it's a realistic option is another question.
Will Christian Hackenberg start?
HUGHES: I don't think so, no. He'll be given an opportunity in camp, but I don't think he'll be ready. He was so, so raw last year. He'll be better this year, but not nearly enough to be the Jets' starting quarterback. I'd think 2018 is a more realistic option. Which, of course, raises the question on why the heck the Jets used a second round pick on him.
Depending on how things go, I could see Hackenberg taking over later in the season. But not Week 1.
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