I am a Jets fan. We can't develop QBs. It is proven. We got lucky with Namath for a couple of years and then he stunk. Here's the 1st/2nd rounders I can think of:
Todd
O'Brien
Clemens
Pennington
Sanchez
Nagle
Geno
Hackenberg
Darnold
That doesn't include all the failed mid-late QBs we've drafted.
There is something about playing for this garbage franchise that causes it to ruin good QBs, or at least make them underperform. Maybe it's a dysfunctional organization. Or the NY media. Or fans who have grown to expect losing and demand garbage QB play. We will ruin Lawrence, or he will get hurt and never be the same. I think the best course is to trade the pick and build a team around a veteran QB. Wentz, Ryan, Hell bring back FitzMagic - That's our only hope. I've officially gone over to the Dark Side.
Interesting discussion - Ill play
Namath - would have been much better if he didnt fall apart - he was a bit before my time but watching him before his knee injury was amazing....guy was a legit dual threat...his knees grew worse and his play with it....still a HOF and we would all be thrilled to have a QB with his skills/career
Todd - lot of pressure being the heir to Broadway Joe and from Alabama....he wasnt a complete bust as he should have gotten them to the Super Bowl is Shula wasnt allowed to cheat.
Kenny O - I would be thrilled to have a Kenny O type QB - guy was a gunslinger and had a cannon....downside was took too many risks and was a statue who got crushed behind poor OLs....but all in all he was a success for a late 1st rd QB...his biggest sin was not being Marino
Nagle - 2d rd bust - should have been Favre which is gut wrenching as Favre was the #1 pick on their board and they couldnt find a way to trade up 3 spots! Then they assitant GM leaves and trades for him the following yr - cant make that up....Nagle was limited as well - while he had a cannon he had no touch and couldnt pick up the O or read defenses.
Clemens - 2d rd QBs usually dont pan out - not sure you can blame the Jets for not developing
Chad - Id say he was a very good QB who was developed well by the team. They took their time with him and he could have been an All Pro for years but his injury to his throwing shoulder, which was already on a weak passing arm, was too much to overcome.
Sanchez - You cant exactly call him a bust - we can only dream of Sam taking the team to 2 AFCCGs - and while he was a game manager he made some huge throws in big moments....he fell apart when they didnt replace some weapons and Tebow crushed his confidence. He had a chance to redeem in a few places and fell flat so maybe it was just a medium talented QB prospect who played as best he could with what he had....I wouldnt say the Jets ruined him per se or didnt develop him...he was limited as a QB
Geno - see above re 2d rd QBs - he was limited as hes shown since
Hack - See above re 2d rd QBs = he was just bad
Darnold - only one Id say that got the worst support/development but that was Gase/Mac....plus he has shown so little that at some point it shifts that he isnt that good
So in my opinion - the history isnt as bad as the rep - all the 1st rd picks besides Sam were solid and developed....Sam can be blamed on Mac not supporting and having an awful coach in Gase who will be gone.....its not fair to blast them for not developing 2d rd QBs who are obviously limited prospects and taken then for a reason.
When was the last great KC QB before MAhomes? A franchise is terrible until they get the right people in place....I think JD is well respected in the league...Gase is a joke...replace him with a solid coach/staff and this becomes a very good place for a a qB with all the assets in olace.