4 perfect backups to help Sam Darnold grow into a star

3. Matt Moore

Despite Cimini dismissing Moore as an option for the Jets, the fit is obvious and there is probably no real hurry to sign him. A year ago he had spent a year out of the league and was set to coach high school football. Then the Chiefs lost Chad Henne to a broken ankle during the preseason, and gave Moore a call to coax him out of whatever level of retirement he was in.

Moore made two starts, and saw extended action in three games, in place of an injured Patrick Mahomes last season. He kept things on the rails, completing nearly 65 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions all told as he went 1-1 as the starter. Without that win with Moore as the starter, the Chiefs ultimately don’t secure a first-round bye in last year’s playoffs.

Moore made five starts of his 17 starts for the Miami Dolphins over the 2016 and 2017 seasons when Gase was the head coach. He also made a playoff start in place of an injured Ryan Tannehill in 2016.

In March Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reported Moore turned down a contract offer from the Giants, so he may have no interest in continuing to play. Or maybe he’d be open to signing somewhere if it was a better fit as the summer goes on. Gase should be making a call to Moore purely in the name of due diligence, if he hasn’t already.