The Miami Dolphins have Ryan Tannehill at quarterback but in the next two years that will likely change. The Jets don’t have a quarterback and that is expected to change this year. A rivalry could be reignited after this years draft.
Both the Dolphins and the Jets have had long droughts at quarterback. In 1983 the Jets drafted Ken O’Brien. Three picks later the Dolphins drafted Dan Marino. The two played out some of the most high-scoring and thrilling games in the AFC East and the NFL through their careers.
By the time both quarterbacks were gone both teams struggled with finding solutions. The Dolphins failed miserably at almost every opportunity. A.J. Feely, Daunte Culpepper, Trent Green, Pat White, hell you know the list. The Jets made attempts as well and while Chad Pennington did well for them, they too failed with Brett Favre and Mark Sanchez. Now all of that could turn around.
This years draft is top-heavy with quarterback talent and both the Dolphins and the Jets appear to have their sites on a signal caller. Five selections separate the two teams. The Jets pick sixth and the Dolphins 11th. Which quarterback will end up where?
For the Jets who hold the earlier pick players like Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, and Josh Allen are all in play. For the Dolphins it may be only one of those with Darnold likely gone with the first overall pick to the Browns.
Miami could trade up and move ahead of the Jets but are they willing to part with the draft picks to make that happen? Would Jarvis Landry fit into a trade scenario? Too early to know for sure.
If both team do in fact draft first round quarterbacks they will be once again judged together. The Jets fans will forever compare their new quarterback to the one they passed on and the Dolphins drafted. Just like O’Brien and Marino. Of course the Dolphins fans will wonder if the team should have traded up.
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This could be an interesting year for the AFC East. While the Dolphins and Jets sit high on the draft board the Bills are also looking for a future franchise face and they could jump ahead of both teams to get one.
The Bills who select 21 and 22 could package both firsts to move up. Three first round quarterbacks for three of the four AFC East teams would mark the first time since 1983 that it has happened. In 1983 all four of the current AFC East teams drafted a quarterback with the Bills going Jim Kelly and the Patriots drafting Tony Eason.
Then of course there is the Patriots. The Patriots will draft a quarterback this year and it will likely happen in the 2nd round to the 4th round. With Jimmy Garropolo gone the Patriots don’t have a young quarterback in line to replace Tom Brady when he retires.
It all adds up to an interesting possibility as the teams in the AFC start to undergo much-needed change at the position.