After being involved in rumors surrounding multiple free-agent quarterbacks, the New York Jets have finally found their guy.
Super Bowl 47 MVP Joe Flacco will be returning to his native state of New Jersey this fall to play for the Jets. The deal is reported to be for one year and worth $1.5 million, with an additional $3 million in incentives.
Jets are signing former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco to a one-year deal, sources tell ESPN. Jets GM Joe Douglas was a Ravens’ scout in 2008, when Baltimore drafted Flacco in round one. Now Flacco will rejoin Douglas, and compete for the backup job when he’s healthy and ready.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 22, 2020
The specifics of the incentives are still unknown, but they presumably pertain to his on-field performance, if a Sam Darnold injury makes him the starter.
Jets general manager Joe Douglas was part of the Baltimore Ravens scouting team when they drafted Flacco 18th overall in 2008, so it’s no secret why he was the Quarter Back that Douglas went with.
It’s worth noting that, in early April, Flacco underwent neck surgery, but he is expected to be able to participate in training camp (without contact) and should be ready to play by the Jets season opener if needed. This injury was the cause for his release from the Denver Broncos
Flacco hasn’t been a full-time starter since the 2017 season, but he has started at least eight games in the last two seasons, with the Ravens and Broncos respectively. Despite not being his team’s primary quarterback, in both of those seasons, he still ended up posting respectable numbers––62.9 completion percentage, 6.7 yards per attempts, 84.6 QBR.
He also has far more NFL experience than current Jets backup David Fales or any quarterback on the market. With this signing, it creates a logjam on in the quarterback room, with David Fales and James Morgan competing for the job as third-stringer.
The signing of Flacco will greatly help the Jets offense, as having a veteran backup should aid in the development of young starting quarterback Sam Darnold. It’s no secret that Darnold has the talent to succeed, but lacks maturity and experience. Learning under Flacco will alleviate both of those problems. Even though Darnold is still the overwhelming favorite to be the starter, this is the first time in his young career he has had a situation that could be considered a “quarterback controversy,” which may force him to work that much harder, and improve even faster than expected.
It also gives the Jets a reliable second option at the position should Darnold fall injured, which means injury won’t necessarily derail their entire season, as it did in 2019.
This signing further cements this offseason as a highly productive one for New York, as they have now addressed every major position of need in both free agency and the draft.
