Getty New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh looking off into the distance after another tough loss.
The New York Jets didn’t wait long to answer their quarterback question.
Late on Monday evening, the green and white executed a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to bring back veteran Joe Flacco.
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A Much Needed Veteran Presence
With rookie quarterback Zach Wilson on the shelf for the next two to four weeks with a PCL strain, it looked like the Jets would be handing the keys of the franchise to inexperienced backup Mike White.
While he performed admirably in the 54-13 blowout vs the New England Patriots, White didn’t show enough to hold down the job.
The Jets acquired veteran Joe Flacco from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft choice. That pick has a chance to become a fifth-rounder based on playing time incentives, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
According to NFL Insider Albert Breer, that sixth-rounder will become a fifth-rounder if Flacco plays “more than 50 percent of the snaps in four games.”
The sixth-rounder going to the Eagles in the Joe Flacco trade becomes a fifth-rounder if Flacco plays more than 50% of the snaps in four games, I’m told. So that’ll likely come down to Zach Wilson’s recovery timetable.
This seems strange on the surface because the green and white did everything in their power not to sign a proven veteran when they had chances this offseason. Now the worst-case scenario presents itself with the rookie out and less than 24 hours after the injury the Jets have already made a move?
Especially after Gang Green head coach Robert Saleh sung the sweet praises of backup Mike White during open availability with the media on Monday.
#Jets HC Robert Saleh explains why the coaching staff felt so confident in QB Mike White (@MikeWhiteQB) during the offseason & why they felt like they didn’t need to go out & sign a vet: #TakeFlight #CINvsNYJ #NFL
High Price but a Potential Just Reward
A sixth-rounder that can turn into a fifth based on playing time incentives seems a bit rich, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
The reason the Jets executed this move is to remain afloat. Their primary backup before this trade was made was White, an inexperienced backup that got his first taste of the NFL in relief duty on Sunday, hardly ideal.
With him projected as the starter while Wilson was away, it didn’t inspire much confidence to the offense and the rest of the team that they could figure this out.
While Flacco may not have the sexy name value that other quarterbacks in the league do, he did show pop last year during his time with the Jets.
Last season he played in five games and started four of them for the green and white. During that run he went 0-4 as a starter but here is a look at his statistical production:
- 864 passing yards
- Six touchdowns to three interceptions
- 55.2 percent completion percentage
According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, the Jets “did have some interest” in bringing Flacco back at the beginning of the offseason, but “many speculated” that he wasn’t an ideal scheme fit.
Although for what it’s worth NFL Insider Josina Anderson tweeted out that a team source said that “he knows the system” from his time with Gary Kubiak in Baltimore and Denver.
Flacco will be a solid stopgap for the Jets during the time Wilson is away and when the BYU stud inevitably returns the former Super Bowl MVP will be the veteran in the quarterback room that he has sorely missed this season.
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