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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 22: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings signals for a play against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)
If he can stay healthy and play like he did against the New England Patriots in Week 3, then the New York Jets *finally* have themselves a legitimate franchise quarterback in future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers despite the fact that he’s approaching 41 years old.
The Jets’ inability to find a franchise-level quarterback is as much their fault as it is the luck of the football gods, as two of their former signal-callers, Geno Smith and Sam Darnold, have been among the NFL’s best to start the 2024 season.
While Geno Smith’s comeback has been official for a few seasons — he won Comeback Player of the Year in 2022 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 — Darnold’s renaissance has only to fruition this year, his first in Minnesota with the Vikings.
Thus far this season, both Smith and Darnold have led their teams to 3-0 records while also being two of the most efficient QBs in the NFL, which is admittedly in the midst of a slight offensive football crisis.
Sam Darnold: 3-0
Geno Smith: 3-0.The NFL works in mysterious ways. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 23, 2024
Smith has completed 74.8% of his passes for 787 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions (with another rushing touchdown), while Darnold has completed 67.9% of his throws for 657 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
While Smith and Darnold have had very different journies to their current levels of relative success, the one thing that’s certainly consistent between them is that the Jets did not put them in a position to properly develop.
The Jets inability to develop a franchise QB on their own shouldn’t be all that surprising considering their own, Woody Johnson, is among the worst in the NFL, as evidenced by the fact that the Jets haven’t qualified for the postseason since 2010, which is not only the longest drought in the league but in all of the major American professional sports.