Josh McCown is out, Bryce Petty is up and Christian Hackenberg is one step closer to the field.
The New York Jets' depth chart has a new look, but the marching orders remain the same for the man in charge of the personnel.
Mike Maccagnan's job is to find a long-term answer at quarterback. He's had three cracks at it -- three offseasons -- but the general manager still hasn't discovered a solution to the problem that has vexed this franchise for decades.
Petty gets a three-game gig to close the season, but there's nothing he can do that would dramatically alter the organization's plan. He's not auditioning for the lead role in the movie; he's trying to secure a place in the 2018 cast. It would be the same for Hackenberg if he somehow manages to get into an actual game. (On Sunday, he'll put on a uniform for only the third time in 30 games.)
Maccagnan needs to make a bold move at quarterback in the offseason, something to create hope for a franchise on the verge of missing the playoffs for a seventh straight year. The timing is right because the draft is filled with talented passers and the veteran market will be flooded with big names.
Here are four approaches they could take:
FIND A VETERAN SAVIOR
Objective: Acquire a proven starter, either through free agency or trade, who can immediately elevate the Jets to playoff contenders.
Potential candidates: Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith, Drew Brees and Eli Manning.
Rationale: This would be the way to go if the Jets aren't excited by any of the quarterbacks in the draft. It would be a philosophical departure for Maccagnan, a methodical roster builder, but he'll be under pressure to make the playoffs -- and sometimes pressure can influence decision makers.
From a salary-cap standpoint, the Jets are well-positioned to sign an expensive free agent, as they expect to have at least $80 million in cap space. If they trade for a starter (see: Smith), it'll cost them significant draft compensation. Either way, they'll have to pay dearly -- perhaps overpay -- to bring in a proven commodity.
Cousins, 29, and Smith, 33, are the most logical candidates because they're still in the prime of their careers.
DRAFT A FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK
Objective: The Jets probably will be picking in the 6-to-10 range, which means one or two of the top quarterbacks could be in play. The last time they took a quarterback in the first round was 2009 (Mark Sanchez). They desperately need fresh blood at the position.
Potential candidates: Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield.
Rationale: Maccagnan has tried to create a pipeline by using second- and third-day picks on Hackenberg and Petty, respectively, but the strategy hasn't produced a starter. It might be time to go all-in on a top prospect. If Maccagnan develops a strong conviction for a particular player, he could try to trade up. If not, he still might be able to land Allen or Mayfield by standing pat.
If McCown is willing to return for a 16th year, he'd be the ideal guy to hold the fort on a one-year contract. He could be the starter until the rookie is ready to take over. That would address short- and long-term concerns at the position. Maccagnan is big on that sort of thing.
HEDGE THEIR BET WITH A MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD VET
Objective: The Jets have tried this before. Basically, it's a Band-Aid approach: Sign a second- or third-tier quarterback and hope to catch lightning in a bottle. It usually works for a year, then fizzles.
Potential candidates: Tyrod Taylor, Case Keenum, Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater.
Rationale: In theory, this would accomplish two things: They could stay competitive with an experienced quarterback while continuing to develop young players on the bench, perhaps even a middle-round newbie from the 2018 draft. Taylor, Bortles and Bridgewater are under-30 players with varying degrees of upside, so there's always a chance the Jets could get lucky. In this case, they'd probably seek contract flexibility, meaning a deal that would allow them to escape after a year or two.
DO NOTHING
Objective: This would be Maccagnan's way of saying the answer is on the current roster. It would be risky, not to mention wildly unpopular among the fan base.
Potential candidates: Hackenberg, Petty and McCown.
Rationale: McCown played the best ball of his career before a season-ending hand injury, and maybe the Jets believe they can squeeze another year out of him -- or until one of the kids is ready to take over. Thing is, it's a flawed strategy because you'd be betting on a 39-year-old and two major question marks. You get in trouble when you start playing too many long shots. You can get away with McCown if he's paired with a top rookie, but not Hackenberg and Petty, neither of whom has demonstrated starting potential. It's time to break up the gang.