Every veteran quarterback who hits free agency will be linked to the Jets. They need one (I do write that a lot), so it’s only a matter of time before dots are connected.
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And it looks like another interesting name will be added to the underwhelming pool of potential options. Enter 28-year-old veteran Nick Foles, who, according to a report from NFL Network, won’t have his contract option picked up by the Chiefs.
Could he be the next passer to lead the Jets? It may not be the worst idea.
Foles, who had stops with the Eagles (2012-2014) and Rams (2015) before arriving in Kansas City, looked decent in spot duty last season. Filling in for an injured Alex Smith, he completed 65.6 percent of his passes and threw for 410 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 105.9. Not bad. And he did it in Andy Reid’s west coast offense.
While he has never called plays at the NFL level, new Jets coordinator John Morton figures to implement an offense largely centered around that specific scheme. Having a quarterback with some experience in it (Foles also played in a west coast offense under Reid in 2012) would be useful.
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Of course, Foles isn’t without faults. After a breakout 2013 season with the Eagles — he threw 27 touchdowns and two interceptions — he hasn’t been the same. He completed just 59.8 percent of his passes and threw for 2,163 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2014, which led to the Eagles trading him to the Rams the next year.
In (then) St. Louis, he played in 11 games before getting benched. He set career-lows in completion percentage (56.4) and quarterback rating (69). He threw for 2,052 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
But Foles’ struggles drop his price tag, a positive for the cap-strapped Jets. He’s not going to demand a big contract. The same can’t be said for fellow soon-to-be free agent Mike Glennon. One league source estimated he could see upwards of $12 million a year.
Which big-name FAs should Jets target?
Is Glennon that much better than Foles? Hardly. Yet the price differential figures to be significant.
There are better options out there. Tony Romo, certainly, if the Cowboys cut him. Tyrod Taylor, too, if the Bills do the same. But if those two sign elsewhere, and the Jets elect not to draft a quarterback, who are the other options?
Josh McCown? Matt McGloin? Colin Kaepernick?
This fact remains: Good quarterbacks don’t grow on trees, and when teams find a quality passer, they don’t let him go.
Foles isn’t elite. He’s not in the upper-echelon of passers. But considering the alternatives, he may be worth a look.
Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
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