FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets gave Paxton Lynch the cold shoulder. The 6-foot-6 prospect from Memphis, with a big arm and fast wheels, was on the board for the Jets with the 20th pick. Instead of taking the quarterback plunge, they opted for linebacker Darron Lee, sparking a Paxton Pursuit by at least two other teams.
The Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys engaged in a trade-up war, targeting the talented but raw quarterback. The Broncos prevailed, trading two draft picks to move up five spots for the right to draft Lynch at 26.
My, my, wasn't that interesting? It's one of the reasons why we love the NFL draft so much. Teams look at the same player and form completely different opinions.
Does Broncos football czar John Elway know something the Jets don't?
The Hall of Fame quarterback knows the position better than just about everybody on the planet, and he felt compelled to make a bold move for Lynch. If Elway is right -- if Lynch develops into a Pro Bowl player -- it'll be another infamous what-if in Jets history, right up there with Ken O'Brien-Dan Marino and Browning Nagle-Brett Favre.
In this case, the Jets made the wise choice by passing on Lynch. Oh, they were intrigued by his skill set -- he may have the highest ceiling of any quarterback in the draft -- but there were concerns about his mental make-up. He scored an 18 on his Wonderlic test, below average for a quarterback, and he didn't impress in his pre-draft interview. He projects a boom-or-bust vibe. Frankly, Elways comes out of this looking desperate.
There was a lot of outside speculation about the Jets taking Lynch. Inside the organization, the sentiment was strongly against him. The Jets already have a project in Bryce Petty, and they didn't want to make a major investment in another college spread quarterback.
We'll see how it plays out. If Lynch flourishes in Denver and Lee plays like the Jets' last first-round linebacker from Ohio State -- draft bust Vernon Gholston -- well ... you know how that song will sound.
The Jets' decision to pass on Lynch may have an immediate impact on their current quarterback situation -- i.e., the Ryan Fitzpatrick contract impasse. Here's how:
Shortly after the pick, Elway said the team's pursuit of Colin Kaepernick is "probably over." Elway said he still could add another quarterback to his depth chart, likely a veteran to join Mark Sanchez and Lynch, but it won't be a big buy.
If there was any chance of the Broncos making a serious play for Fitzpatrick, a free agent, it's all but gone now. It means his market has dried up. The Broncos made their major acquisition, as did the Los Angeles Rams, another team that sought to stabilize its quarterback situation. The Rams got their man by drafting Jared Goff with the first overall pick.
The Jets are the only team displaying a "Help Wanted" sign. For Fitzpatrick, it's the Jets or bust.
Fitzpatrick would rather not play at all than play for the Jets' current contract offer, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported. That would be a drastic stance by Fitzpatrick. This much is certain: The Jets have a job opening and Fitzpatrick needs a job. If the situation remains unchanged through the draft -- if the Jets don't add a veteran quarterback -- it'll leave them and Fitzpatrick on the dance floor, each waiting for the other to make the first move. At some point, the Jets will run out of patience and look elsewhere, perhaps free agent Brian Hoyer.
The Jets have other choices -- not great ones, but they have choices. Fitzpatrick doesn't -- unless he decides to use his Harvard education to get a real job.