Did The NY Jets Just Accidentally Confirm They Want Tyson Bagent?
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles confirmed last week that the team has been receiving calls about the availability of quarterback Tyson Bagent. Rumors first surfaced when insiders close to the Arizona Cardinals said new head coach Mike Lafleur was intrigued by Bagent. Poles revealed that other teams were involved as well, suggesting a serious market is forming for the 25-year-old. That isn’t entirely a surprise, given that both free agency and the draft look weak at the position.
Normally, in a situation like this, we don’t know if a trade is real until it happens. Teams prefer to keep their interest completely secret. Well, everybody except the New York Jets, apparently. Something wild took place on Twitter (X) last week. When the Poles’ revelation about the Bears receiving calls went out, a Jets fan posted a photo of Bagent in green and white.
Three hours later, something insane happened. The Jets’ actual Twitter (X) account responded to that tweet, posting a video of insider Ian Rapoport discussing the possibility of Bagent joining New York. It stayed up for over a week without anyone noticing. However, it started gaining attention on March 3rd and was quickly deleted.
The Jets’ interest in Tyson Bagent seems undeniable.
Nothing like this has ever happened before with the account of an actual team posting a tweet about another player they don’t employ. If that isn’t a declaration of interest, nothing is. It isn’t hard to see why. New York has no starting quarterback. The Justin Fields experiment is over. Luring free agents after the year they just had will be impossible. Head coach Aaron Glenn worked with Ben Johnson for years in Detroit. If the Bears’ head coach signs off on the capability of a quarterback, Glenn is certain to take notice.
Last but not least, the Jets have the ammunition to make a trade. They have four picks in the first two rounds alone of this draft. Rumors say the Bears want a 2nd rounder for Bagent. New York could easily flip the latter of their two 2nds to Chicago for Bagent and still have two 1sts and a high 2nd to address the rest of their roster. It is either that or take a gamble on a rookie, which sounds inadvisable with this draft class. Bagent is under contract for two more years at a low price. He’s been developed by a good coach. If it doesn’t work out, the Jets should be able to turn back around and go after a QB in a much better class next year.
| Quarterback | Original Team | New Team | Year Traded | Notable Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Garoppolo | New England Patriots | San Francisco 49ers | 2017 | Guided 49ers to Super Bowl LIV and two NFC Championships. |
| Matt Cassel | New England Patriots | Kansas City Chiefs | 2009 | 2010 Pro Bowler; led Chiefs to an AFC West title. |
| Matt Schaub | Atlanta Falcons | Houston Texans | 2007 | 2x Pro Bowler; 2009 NFL passing yards leader. |
| Matt Hasselbeck | Green Bay Packers | Seattle Seahawks | 2001 | 3x Pro Bowler; led Seahawks to Super Bowl XL. |
| Mark Brunell | Green Bay Packers | Jacksonville Jaguars | 1995 | 3x Pro Bowler; led expansion Jaguars to two AFC Championship games. |
Bagent’s desire might be weighed in this scenario.
Remember, the Bears are under no obligation to trade the young quarterback. Everybody in the building loves him. They would prefer he stick around. However, they also know he desires to eventually become a starter in the league. If the Jets offer him that opportunity, would he take it? New York doesn’t exactly have a sterling reputation around the league these days. Glenn just got done replacing his entire offensive staff, relying on names like Frank Reich, who had been out of the league for 2 years.
Would Tyson Bagent be willing to bet what could be his one and only chance to start on a situation like that? Now, the good news is that the Jets have assembled an intriguing offense. Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou headline a talented offensive line while Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, and Breece Hall offer a strong cast of weapons. If Reich can install a decent system, it could work. Everything depends on how confident Bagent is that he can handle the immense pressure of playing in New York.
His experience in Chicago may actually be a great benefit in that regard. Either way, the Jets may have accidentally tipped their hand.