Jets continue NFL’s longest playoff drought, but they’re only a quarterback away

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The last time the New York Jets made the playoffs, it was the 2010 season. Rex Ryan was the head coach, Mark Sanchez was the quarterback, LaDainian Tomlinson was the primary running back, Darrelle Revis was in his fourth season, and Jim Leonhard was patrolling the secondary along with Revis. Now, Ryan and Sanchez are television analysts, Revis is coming up on his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility, Tomlinson is in the Hall of Fame, and Leonhard is the Wisconsin Badgers’ interim head coach after a highly successful stint as the team’s defensive coordinator.

What we’re saying is that it’s been a long time since the New York Jets rocked and roiled in the postseason.

Sadly for Jets fans, that unfortunate trend will continue in the 2022 season. When the Jets lost 23-6 to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, that officially ended their chances for the postseason.

The good news for the now 7-9 Jets is that they have just about everything figured out. General manager Joe Douglas did a great job in free agency and the draft, head coach Robert Saleh is the right guy for that job, and there’s serious talent just about everywhere.

The bad news for the now 7-9 Jets is their deficit of talent at the game’s most important position. Quarterback has been a major problem for the team through most of the season. Zach Wilson has firmly proven that he’s not the guy, and his selection with the second pick of the 2021 draft will go down as Douglas’ biggest mistake. Mike White has been a serviceable bridge starter, though he is in no way the future at the position. Whether it’s in the draft or in free agency, the Jets will have to figure that out.

So, back to the good news. The Jets are estimated to have just over $15 million in salary cap space when the new league year kicks over in March, and there are moves Douglas and his staff can make to expand that. Perhaps it’s a free agent signing. Perhaps it’s a mega-trade for a star like Aaron Rodgers. Or, maybe the Jets find their future quarterback in the draft. Right now, they have the 13th overall pick, which is a decent place to be.

Perhaps the Jets should take a look at one of their AFC East foes, and how they figured out an interminable postseason drought. The Buffalo Bills failed to make the postseason every year from 2000 through 2016. They made it in 2017 with Tyrod Taylor as their bridge guy, selected Josh Allen with the seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft, and haven’t missed the postseason since 2019.

All the Jets need is the right quarterback. Or, a functional quarterback. Any quarterback who won’t turn into a pumpkin at the worst possible time. If they can get that rolling, the future looks very bright.

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