The Jets' 2018 quarterback situation seems to have boiled down to two possible scenarios, each as likely as the other.
Option A: They give free-agent-to-be Kirk Cousins a massive contract, and he takes over under center.
Option B: They re-sign 38-year-old Josh McCown for the present, and draft their future with the No. 6 pick.
If the latter turns from possibility to reality, that's A-OK with McCown. He not only wants to return to the Jets, but has no issue mentoring a potential rookie.
"That's a part of this business," McCown said from the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. "For me, I'm going to come in and be a part of the quarterback room and assimilate as best I can and give away my experiences and share that, part of that, with anybody that's in there."
This year's draft is rich in quarterback talent. Sam Darnold (USC), Josh Rosen (UCLA) and Josh Allen (Wyoming) headline the class, but Lamar Jackson (Louisville) and Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) will likely make it five quarterbacks selected in the first round.
The Jets hold the sixth pick, and have done their homework on each player. Rosen and Darnold are likely pipe dreams, but the other three are definitely in play. The Jets haven't been shy about their infatuation with Allen, and spent a ton of time with Mayfield at the Senior Bowl last week.
McCown is the near perfect mentor for any young quarterback. There isn't much he hasn't seen throughout his 15-year career. And he has zero issue teaching those behind him.
"I've said it from Day 1: I really root for these guys (the Jets) being able to find that long-term answer at quarterback," McCown said. "I want them to succeed. If that's through the draft, or it's through people already on the team, whatever that is, if I can be a part of helping that, I'd love to."
A McCown reunion isn't wanted by just one side. Head coach Todd Bowles, owner Christopher Johnson and general manager Mike Maccagnan all expressed interest in him returning next year. And that's not just because he's a good mentor. McCown's coming off the best season of his career
Before a fractured left hand ended his season after 13 games, McCown had completed 67.3 percent of his passes (career high) for 2,926 yards (career high) and 18 touchdowns (career high). He threw just nine interceptions, ran for another five scores (career high), and had a quarterback rating of 94.5.
The Jets were 5-8 with him under center. Not great, but much better than expected. The team seemed to take a legitimate step forward last year. If McCown returns in 2018, he hopes to continue that.
"I'd like to be in there," McCown said. "I love the organization and the guys in the locker room. I think that was a good foundation laid. Something special. Something that can be built."
If McCown does come back, he'll have a new guy calling plays. The Jets fired offensive coordinator John Morton in late January. They're expected to replace him with quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates.
"It's hard because you never want to see anybody lose their job," McCown said. "That's the crappy part of this business. But, with that said, Jeremy is a guy I worked closely with this year. If that's the opportunity he gets, I'll be excited for him to get that opportunity and look forward to him putting his imprint on this team."
Scouting the draft's top prospects
McCown spoke after giving a speech during at the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality Town Hall. The meeting focused on race relations and athlete activism. He was one of six players and former NFL executives to take part.
NFL players and executives participated in panel discussions to review lessons learned from the activist athlete this season with a focus on what's coming next. RISE will release a report on athlete activism in 2017 and recommendations for best practices moving forward. RISE aims to use sports to improve race relations.
"From way back when (Colin Kaepernick) took a knee, to this season, I think awareness was raised," McCown said. "But now guys are interested in doing work, getting in the communities, getting involved in that. I think we're all in the conversation to a degree.
"Now it's about what can we do, actively being a part of it, to make it better."
NJ.com's Dan Duggan contributed to this story.
Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.