The New York Jets are ready to roll out the red carpet for free-agent quarterback Derek Call. They will reportedly host him for a visit this weekend.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on Friday that Carr will visit the Jets after he was released by the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week. This will be the second team Carr has met with after visiting the New Orleans Saints.
When he visited the Saints, he was still under contract with the Raiders, which were attempting to trade him. Carr then made it known he would not accept a trade to the Saints or any other team, resulting in his release.
Other than Lamar Jackson, who seems destined to get the franchise tag with the Baltimore Ravens, Carr should be considered the top free-agent quarterback available on the open market, even after a down year.
The Jets would seem to be an ideal potential landing spot.
New York has a lot of ingredients in place to be a contender in the AFC, including an outstanding defense and some very good young playmakers at the skill positions. The thing that is holding them back, however, is quarterback.
Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft class, has been a major flop through the first two years of his career while Mike White is probably not the long-term answer at the position either.
The Jets have been rumored as a potential landing spot in a trade for Aaron Rodgers, but Carr would also make a lot of sense — perhaps even more sense.
Carr might not have Rodgers’ skill, track record or resume, but he is significantly younger and would not require the Jets to give up any draft capital or players in a trade. There is a lot of value in that. Carr has also been a very good quarterback for most of his career.
His 2022 was a down year, but he was a top-10 quarterback for several years before that and would almost certainly be the best starting quarterback the Jets have had in years.
Carr was surprisingly benched by the Raiders for the final three regular-season games in favor of backup Jarrett Stidham. That started the process for the team to get rid of him this offseason, especially before his $40 million salary for 2022 would have been locked in.
After starting the 2022 season with a 7-4 record and looking like a lock for the AFC playoffs, the Jets ended the season on a six-game losing streak to finish with a 7-10 record. The offense was the biggest issue, scoring more than 17 points just one time during that losing streak. The Jets did not score a single touchdown in their final three regular-season games, totaling just 15 points. They managed just three touchdowns over the final five games.
That offensive performance wasted a defense that finished fourth in the NFL in both yards and points against.
Of their 10 losses, five of them were by seven points or less. That includes three losses where the defense allowed 20 points or less.
Even competent quarterback play would have put them in the playoffs. Carr could certainly give them that level of play — and more — and quickly make them a potential contender in the AFC. They may not have a better option this offseason.
