Jets need to fix their QB situation if the Jets are to become a playoff team by 2023.

Expectations change. For the JetsThey did. They did, regardless of whether they wish to admit it or not.

Many people who were associated with the team back in the summer would have signed up to the bottom of what 2022 has become. The Jets won seven games and could win another next week. Their December was full of meaningful battles. They made their presence known in the AFC East. They were able to fulfill their playoff hopes in the new year.

But what was good enough in August isn’t good enough now.

This finish — two wins since Oct. 30 and none in December — is unacceptable.

And the root of this team’s issues — why they limped to the conclusion of yet another year — is the same as its been since Joe Namath He hung his fur coat.

The Jets require a quarterback.

They will not change their ways until they have a quarterback.

“The quarterback is the head of the snake,” head coach Robert Saleh Monday’s statement was made. “It is the most important position in football.”

Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur Public Enemy No. Jets Nation is Number 1. Blaming the assistants is an old tale. Many are old enough to recall when the defensive coordinator was. Jeff Ulbrich was an incompetent nincompoop way back in … (checks notes) … September of this year before turning New York’s defense into one of the best in the NFL.

LaFleur is not perfect. The Jets don’t own a 2-6 record in November and December if not for contributed failures from all levels of the organization. But while the cries for a change in that role grow louder and louder by the day, Saleh doesn’t appear to be listening.

LaFleur might be a reincarnation Bill Walsh His system would still be hampered by the issues at center. The Jets quarterback position in 2022 hasn’t just been an anchor preventing the ship from moving forward, but one dragging it to the deepest depths of Davy Jones’ locker.

“Every position is always under evaluation, guys,” Saleh said.

The Jets are making every effort to make the public believe that second-year quarterback, Emmitt Smith, is a viable option. Zach Wilson He can be the man. A report surfaced from NFL Network before Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks that the Jets weren’t planning on “shopping” Wilson this offseason. Saleh highlighted league players like Sam Darnold (Carolina Panthers). Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) who have experienced additional success after leaving New York as reason the Jets shouldn’t have such a quick trigger finger. He also highlighted Giants QB Daniel Jones A QB who took time to improve in New York, but now leads his team to victory.

The reason the Jets aren’t planning on shopping Wilson is because of the mud it would leave on the face of Joe Douglas The entire scouting team to trade a player they drafted second overall two years ago for a fifth or sixth-round pick (at most). And if Saleh actually thinks the Jets are going to wait until Wilson’s fifth year (like Darnold) or ninth year (like Smith) to receive even baseline competent quarterback play, well, it won’t be Saleh on the sideline to reap those rewards.

Wilson has a record of 8-14 in his 22 starts as a starter over the past two years. Wilson has completed 55.2 per cent of his passes, thrown for 4,022 yard with 15 touchdowns (and 18 interceptions). He has a quarterback rating 70.9. Wilson was 31st out of 31 qualified passers as a rookie. He was 33rd out of 33 qualified passers this year.

Wilson would shatter everything statistics have told the NFL world regarding a quarterback’s potential if he even develops into even an average quarterback. Statistically, he’s much closer to JaMarcus Russel’s (7-15 record, 70.9 passer rating, 16 touchdowns) career trajectory than Smith or Darnold’s.

And no matter what Saleh and Douglas say publicly, you best believe they will not link their job securities to Wilson’s potential development. They are aware they won’t return in 2024 without a playoff berth. This means that they will do everything possible to make it to the postseason in 2024.

It means that you should be a good quarterback.

And they’re going to get a quarterback.

“We’re going to do our best to figure out exactly what’s best for this organization at this time, for the rest of this week, and again in 2023,” Saleh said. “Whatever that decision is, we’ll roll with it.”

A splash acquisition can never be ruled out as long as Johnson is this team’s owner. Johnson craves positive attention, a shiny new toy, and is always looking for it. So you better believe the Jets will be on Line 1 if the BaltimOdere Ravens or Green Bay Packers even think about entertaining offers for quarterbacks Lamar Jackson or Aaron Rodgers. It doesn’t matter what it costs — Johnson will step in to ensure the Jets do everything in their power to make sure it gets done.

It is more likely to find someone like Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders) or Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers). Although neither quarterback is a superstar, both have shown they are capable of winning in the NFL. In Garoppolo’s case, he’s shown he can do it in this exact offense. With Carr, he’s shown he can be successful despite playing for a train wreck organization.

There was an openness from the organization to consider the possibility. Mike White Being the starter in 2023, and beyond. But that ship set sail in Seattle. White is believed by the Jets. They’ll likely look to retain him this offseason as a backup while Wilson develops as the third-string quarterback. But it’s too much of a risk for this staff and management to rely on a player like White in a clear do-or-die year.

There’s a nice, but not substantial enough sample size of proven play. There are legitimate durability concerns. Jets need a quick and reliable solution. There should be no more hopes or dreams.

“It’s not about whether or not you’ve seen enough, it’s about having faith in the person that you evaluated, the person you spoke to, the person that you’ve invested in has the ability to get to where you think he’s capable of getting,” Saleh said.

“The easy answer is ‘well I’ll just get rid of him, go get somebody new.’ It’s hard to be true to your convictions and to continue developing a young man you believe can do anything. But again, it takes time.

There’s no denying the Jets are substantially better than they’ve been. In 2020, they won only two games. They won four games last year. They won an eye-rolling 7 in 2019, but not more than 5 the three previous years.

They seem to have the right staff. Swings-and-misses in the 2020 and 2021 drafts bruised Douglas’ resume, but his home-run 2022 class re-instilled faith he and his staff are the right men in the front office, too.

The timer is now turning off. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but this coming offseason will be Douglas’ fourth year and Saleh’s third. That’s a millennia in NFL years.

There are no excuses. There’s a playoff mandate for next year.

And the Jets don’t have a shot of hitting it if they don’t get themselves a quarterback.