On Tuesday, CBS Sports put out a piece that speculated that trading for the Commanders’ Jacoby Brissett was one possible preferred path to the Jets replacing the injured Aaron Rodgers.
Brissett is one of several current backups who got significant starting run last year in the league, and as Grant Paulsen noted Wednesday, “he played really well on a team that really struggled in Cleveland.”
But…
“I just find the idea that the Jets would come calling to Washington for Brissett instead going for a free agent off the street that’s in the same bucket,” GP said, thinking of others like Carson Wentz or Cam Newton or Chad Henne. “Those guys cost you nothing, and the ap between them and Brissett is so small, why would you give up a draft pick for them when you’re rolling with Zach Wilson anyway?”
Danny agrees, but had to play Devil’s advocate.
“It would be the idea that the Jets’ window is right now, and they are really good in every area except quarterback,” Danny said. “If you can’t have the high ceiling, maybe you try to get a higher floor; if you decide the best guy to run the offense is someone you need to just not screw us, you can make the argument you spare no expense this year because you’re already all in – you can still have a nice season and maybe be a playoff team if you can just have someone who won’t screw it up for you.”
The Jets were nearly a playoff team with “terrible QB play last year, so even below average is an improvement” in Danny’s mind, and Grant gets that – but still isn’t feeling a move.
“I understand why they would try to get a veteran as a backup and push Wilson, who you’re going to try to get something out of and ask not to lose us the game,” Grant said, “but he may not be able to do that, so I get the logic – but I think if I’m Washington or Atlanta, with a starter who might not last the season, there’s a reason that backup is there. Ron Rivera has to win this season, or he’s in big trouble. And, we saw Sam Howell already take a monster shot and come out – the idea that you won’t need that over the next 17 weeks and 16 games is crazy.”
The Junkies, or at least JP Flaim, thought maybe the Commanders could hold the Jets hostage so to speak and get a second-rounder, but if they HAD to trade Brissett, Grant knows the return ain’t that good…although maybe worth it?
“If I could get a fifth or sixth-round pick if they came calling, then yes, I, Grant Paulsen, is making that trade,” GP said, “but I don’t think Ron Rivera is. But me, if something happens to Sam Howell, who is all this season is about anyway, it doesn’t matter, the season is lost anyway, so it’s a better situation to be picking higher instead of doing the thing where you pick 19th or 20th again if Brissett plays well. But, Rivera is not trading Brissett, because he is the safety net in case the Howell thing doesn’t work in a year where he has to win football games.”
Danny agrees with both points, because “I don’t care about Ron Rivera and the Martys’ futures, and the best thing for the long-term is more draft picks and assets.”
Take a listen to the entire conversation about Brissett above!
