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BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins drops back in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/ Getty Images)
Home » Blog » Jets would be foolish to pursue Kirk Cousins

Jets would be foolish to pursue Kirk Cousins

Matt Verderame News NFL

Whenever free agency comes up, the idea of signing a player to a huge contract is roundly slapped down. Reason being, most large deals end up being regrettable, especially when a team far away from true contention is involved.On Monday, there was a report by Rich Cimini of ESPN that the New York Jets are willing to pay any price to acquire Kirk Cousins.

Cousins, 29, is hitting the free-agent market and will likely be the highest-paid player in NFL history when he puts pen to paper. The pact could very well be good for $150 million over five years with $100 million in guarantees.

Signing Cousins to something that enormous would make sense for a team trying to build a Super Bowl roster. If the Minnesota vikings were to throw that cash at Cousins, it would be a great risk. A;though, one understandably taken. The same could be said for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who should release Blake Bortles in the pursuit of an upgrade.

For the Jets, this would be non-sensical. New York just finished up a 5-11 campaign. It hasn’t been to the playoffs since losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 AFC Championship Game. The roster actually overachieved in 2017, telling you all you need to know about the talent level in house.

To sell Cousins on New York, general manager Mike Maccagnan would have to pitch a huge run in free agency. As well as outbidding other franchises. The Jets aren’t a contender, and Cousins will have his pick of a half-dozen teams. Most of these teams will be closer to a championship than New York. Maccagnan may have to make big moves in the opening hours of free agency. Perhaps he will land a duo or trio of big names on the offensive side of the ball. Think Sammy Watkins, Jarvis Landry and Jimmy Graham.

 

History?

 

New York has the cap space to make it happen, but that would be a stark departure from the full-scale rebuild the Jets embarked on a year ago. Less than 12 months ago, there was a commitment to building through the draft, as Maccagnon released a hoard of veterans including Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis, Brandon Marshall and others.

Additionally, the Jets have the Sixth-overall pick in the draft. With Sam Darold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield all projected to go in the top half of the first round, why not land one of them and get a quarterback much younger than Cousins for a tenth of the cost?

The Jets have a monumental decision ahead, and the correct one is to be patient, go young and draft a quarterback instead of signing the most expensive one in league history.

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