<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Josh McCown's success helps Jets now, hurts them later

          Josh McCown is leading the Jets in the right direction, but it could end up costing the franchise in the long run. Jason Miller/Getty Images
          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterOct 21, 2017, 10:00 AM
            Close
              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
            Follow on X

          After six games, journeyman Josh McCown has exceeded expectations, but there will be a price to pay in the offseason -- the subject of our New York Jets question of the week.

          @RichCimini: To paraphrase a line from Charles Dickens, it would be the best of times and the worst of times. An eight-win (or better) season would be quite an accomplishment for the organization, top to bottom, a terrific foundation in terms of roster development and culture change. It would be an unmistakable signal the franchise is heading in the right direction.

          The downside (and this can't be understated) is they'd be back to square one at quarterback. They can't go into next season with the same trio -- McCown, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg. Where's the hope? How do you sell that to your fan base? You can do it for a year, but not two.

          You can't help but appreciate what McCown is doing this season, but the man is 38 years old and may want to get started on his coaching career. The Jets certainly can't hand the job to Petty or Hackenberg, based on what they've shown over the last two years. They'd be lucky to stick as backups.

          The Jets need to acquire a proven starter or a young quarterback with a high ceiling -- i.e. one of the top college prospects. If they're picking in the middle of the first round, they'd have to pay an obscene price to jump up into the top two or three. Consider what the Los Angeles Rams gave up last year to draft Jared Goff. It was crazy steep.

          Would the Jets do that for Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen or Josh Allen? Knowing how the Jets think, yes, I could absolutely see them trying to make that move. If not, they have to trade for Alex Smith or open the checkbook for a big-ticket free agent (Kirk Cousins?).

          General manager Mike Maccagnan won't get too many more cracks at trying to fix this problem. For three years, he has relied on Band Aids and "maybes" at quarterback. Come the offseason, it'll be time to do something permanent.