New York Jets rumors: Chase Daniel visits

Sep 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Chase Daniel (10) during a game against the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Chase Daniel (10) during a game against the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Jets are in the market for a quarterback, via one avenue or another, and Chase Daniel is looking for a job.

Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, and the difference in results for the New York Jets in 2015 and 2016 is another piece of evidence. Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are the only quarterbacks on the team’s depth chart for 2017, and at this point the Jets are the only team left in the market for a veteran signal caller at this point.

The Jets are known to have had interest in Jay Cutler and Josh McCown, with Colin Kaepernick an unlikely target due mostly to off-field reasons. Upon being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles, Chase Daniel became a convenient possible option for the Jets. After visiting the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Daniel made a trip to the Big Apple on Monday.

Daniel went undrafted out of Missouri in 2009, and then spent his rookie season on the Washington Redskins’ practice squad. He spent the 2010-2012 seasons with the Saints, attempting nine total passes as a backup to Drew Brees, and since then Daniel has been a very highly-paid, still very little-used backup with the Kansas City Chiefs (2013-2015) and the Eagles (2016).

If Daniel wants a chance to start above all else, there’s no better opportunity out there than the Jets. With two career regular season starts (both with the Chiefs) and 78 career pass attempts (65.4 percent completion rate), it’s hard to judge what Daniel can do one way or another with any confidence.

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The Jets could go into full-on tank mode this year, with an eye on taking a quarterback from what looks to be a loaded draft class next year. Among the available veteran signal callers, a plan to sign and start Daniel for all 16 games is the clearest path to the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.