Why New York Jets Would Regret Trading Tim Tebow

The New York Jets have been one of the biggest embarrassments in the NFL this season, mainly due to their carousel of quarterbacks. Rich Cimini of ESPN New York reports that won’t be the case in 2013 as the team will likely move both Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow before next season:

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The Jets will explore all options with Sanchez, including a trade, and the team plans to part ways with Tebow after the season, league sources said Wednesday.

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While the Jets absolutely need to ditch Sanchez—who has thrown for just over 2,500 yards along with 13 touchdowns and 17 interceptions this season as the team’s usual starter—it’s in their best interest to keep Tebow.

Tebow’s problem this season hasn’t been that he’s underperformed; it’s that he’s rarely played. Tebow has eight passing attempts this season and 32 attempts on the ground, as he’s been on the field for just 70 offensive snaps. This comes just a season after he had 271 passing and 122 rushing attempts with the Denver Broncos—to whom he brought to the postseason.

The frustration of not playing came out after the Jets named Greg McElroy the starter for Sunday’s Week 16 matchup against the San Diego Chargers—a game that will determine nothing but draft slot positioning for New York—as Cimini writes.

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“All you can ask for, all you want is a chance—a chance to go out and play the game you love and help this team win football games,” Tebow said. “That’s all I wanted. I tried to make the most of every opportunity I had. I would’ve loved to have had more.”

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The Jets have gone about this entire situation wrong the entire season. Tebow might have an unorthodox throwing style and may not be best fit for the New York offense, but when Sanchez isn’t winning games, why McElroy over Tebow? Why would New York go with an unproven quarterback over one with decent numbers and playoff experience? It doesn’t make any sense.

What the Jets should do is keep Tebow for next season despite his displeasure and make him the starting quarterback.

Unless the Jets fall in their final two regular season games, they won’t have the best of draft picks. Sure, a mid-first-round draft pick is nice, but it probably won’t be good enough to land one of the three top quarterback prospects in Geno Smith, Tyler Wilson or Matt Barkley. They’ll be left with quarterbacks who aren’t necessarily ready to lead a football team, least of all one from New York.

Drafting one of these quarterbacks is just going to put a tone of pressure on him that will likely lead to another failed season.

If the Jets plan to stick with Tebow for at least next season—giving him the shot that he deserves—then they should go after a top-notch wide receiver that he’ll be able to hook up with each and every Sunday.

Getting rid of Tebow isn’t the answer because the Jets would be giving up someone who they never gave a true opportunity to. Keeping him and giving him a fresh college receiver to work with is a way to make 2013 a success in New York.