It is extremely rare for an NFL team to carry more than three quarterbacks at a time during the regular season.
With the selection of West Virginia product Geno Smith on Friday, the Jets now have five on their roster. That means one — or likely two — of them will have to go.
According to sources cited by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, incumbent starter Mark Sanchez may be the first on the chopping block. Schefter reports that the Jets are considering releasing Sanchez despite the massive salary cap hit the team would take as a result.
Smith, whom the Jets drafted 39th overall, and Sanchez are joined in New York by Tim Tebow, Greg McElroy and newcomer David Garrard. According to Schefter, both Tebow and Garrard have impressed those high up in the organization this offseason, with the former showing up slimmer and with improved mechanics and the latter shaping up to be an ideal mentor to a young quarterback like Smith.
The Jets’ passing offense ranked 30th in the NFL last year, with Sanchez completing 54.3 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Smith completed 71.8 percent of his throws for 4205 yards as a senior for the Mountaineers, totaling 42 touchdowns with just six interceptions and setting a school record for career completions and touchdown passes.
