While the New York Jets certainly need to add a quarterback, there are some they should probably stay away from.
Rich Cimini isn’t dismissing that the Jets need to explore every possible quarterback avenue this offseason, but when it comes to Kyler Murray, the ESPN insider made it clear he believes that path is a lot riskier than it might even seem.
Appearing on ESPN Radio, Cimini spoke about insight from behind the scenes that has given him worries about the idea of Murray landing in New York, especially as the Jets search for short-term stability and long-term answers at the position.
“I was talking to someone, one of his former teammates, the other day,” Cimini said, per NJ.com. “He basically warned the Jets. I said, ‘You know the Jets might be going after Kyler in a month or two,’ and he goes, ‘No, no, no, the Jets don’t want to do that. You don’t want Kyler Murray as your quarterback.’ This is someone who played with Murray.”
While Cimini didn’t name the former teammate, the message was the important part, and it shows how some view him around the league. For an organization trying to change its culture under head coach Aaron Glenn, locker-room fit and good play are very important.
Murray, a player once viewed as a potential star in the NFL, is a decent dual-threat quarterback when healthy. However, questions about health, size, and more have followed him throughout his time in Arizona.
Instead of going after him, the Jets will have options, and Cimini believes Jacoby Brissett should be the man for the job.
“Brissett also happens to be very close with Bill Parcells,” Cimini said. “He basically looks at Parcells as a mentor. They developed a relationship many years ago when Brissett was a high-schooler in South Florida, where Parcells lives. They hit it off and they’ve stayed in touch. Of course, we know Parcells and Aaron Glenn are very close, so you can connect the dots there.”
While Murray is probably better than Brissett, he comes with much less risk. The Jets might take a chance on someone like Murray, but the contract is tough to ignore.