New York Jets

Does Bryce Petty actually worry Jets?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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As the New York Jets try to figure out what to do at quarterback not just for this season but beyond, are they actually worried about Bryce Petty?

Make no mistake about it, the New York Jets aren’t sure what the future will look like at quarterback. It’s safe to say that at this point in time, quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith are more than likely done in the big apple. That leaves them with Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg leading the way as soon as next season.

Could the Jets go after a cheap veteran quarterback as insurance for the youngsters? Could they go after a top quarterback via free agency? Would the Jets actually consider using their first-round draft pick on another quarterback next year? All these questions probably won’t be answered until they have some clarity on what Petty brings to the table.

Whether it was a move of desperation due to playing in front of the home crowd in Week 10 or giving Fitzpatrick more time to heal, Petty looked alright in his debut. Of course, he didn’t light up the scene like Dak Prescott has but the potential is absolutely there. Problem is, if Petty doesn’t turn out to be a quality option under center, the Jets will have even bigger problems moving forward.

While the Jets didn’t put all their eggs into Petty’s basket, he’s been trained, coached, and developed to the point where the franchise wants to see a return on their investment. Any drafted player needs at least two to three years of starting to properly be deemed either a solid selection or a complete bust.

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At the end of the day, it’s all about winning football games. The Jets might be worried that naming Petty as a starter the rest of the way could cause their locker room to turn chaotic since it would effectively mean starting over at the most important position on the team.

Head coach Todd Bowles has the final say and a very tough decision to make. While some may claim Fitzpatrick gives them the best chance to win more football games this season, he’s been struggling beyond comprehension. Despite being a veteran for over a decade, Petty would actually give them a much-needed spark to execute on offense and score touchdowns.

Petty has better arm strength, mobility, and can hit passes that Fitzpatrick can only dream of. Fitzpatrick is an interception machine and well, the Jets shouldn’t be all that worried about turning the page over into the Petty era. He surely can’t do any worse than what the football world has seen Fitzpatrick do this season.

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