With seven losses on the season, it’s time to start the New York Jets quarterback investigation for the season of 2018 and beyond.

Hey, at least they didn’t finish 0-16. Right, Colin Cowherd, you brilliant football man?

Or hey, at least they didn’t fulfill that powerful message from an “unnamed” NFL exec naming the summer New York Jets personnel the worst in a decade. Right, Daniel Jeremiah?

I’m guessing both of those fellas didn’t read Elite Sports NY over the summer. Exhibit A came in when we immediately debunked the silly “worst roster in a decade” notion by comparing the roster to the winless Detroit Lions nine years ago. Exhibit B came when we announced to the world that this Jets personnel group is much improved from a season ago. (Don’t pay attention to the over-the-hill veteran names that were cut. Production simply wasn’t there.)

But let’s move on. Forget the past. Forget our feelings in terms of so-called “NFL experts” not paying attention to us and going on to make fools of themselves. In fact, I believe this group is underachieving a tad. Look at the roster. Look at the games. Todd Bowles — who Cowherd proclaimed as the runner-up as coach of the year in early November — is underachieving with this young talented group.

Like previously mentioned, we must move on. It’s now time to commence the real fun — the New York Jets quarterback fun.

A veteran free agent signing? A drafted phenom in the top 10? A middle-round gem? Or how about somebody who’s actually on the roster? With seven losses on the season, it’s now officially time to dig in and look ahead — even though so much can still happen between now and the draft.

We now rank the best quarterback situations for the New York Jets in 2018 and beyond.

Notables

• Christian Hackenberg (New York Jets)
• Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State)
• Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
• Lamar Jackson (Louisville)
• Clayton Thorson (Northwestern)
• Luke Falk (Washington State)

Christian Hackenberg lands on the notables section for one serious reason: we don’t believe he can get the job done.

In fact, if the Penn State product receives a start late this season and runs with it to a degree in which comforts the organization beyond its wildest dreams, it’d be the greatest situation in the world. The No. 2 pick from a couple years ago would be validated. No more picks would be wasted and assets used in the pursuit of a franchise QB. Having that guy in-house would be the ideal situation.

We just don’t think he has the goods. Something’s missing in-between the ears.

Mason Rudolph, Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson and Luke Falk all land on the notables as serious quarterback prospects via the NFL Draft. It’s just too early to project where most of these guys will land in terms of draft positioning.

Don’t Touch Notables

• Kirk Cousins
• Alex Smith

It’s not that I’m against signing a veteran free agent quarterback. It makes sense in many situations.

But these two guys, Kirk Cousins and Alex Smith, make very little sense at this stage of the game for this specific organization.

With Cousins, the money will be outrageous. Somebody will give it to him. There’s no question about that. The deal with paying him the money, however, means that he’s the bonafide franchise guy with no doubts. This means there’s very little wiggle-room. There’s no backup option and all of your hopes and dreams hinge on that guy as the salary cap gets squeezed tremendously.

In terms of Alex Smith, no, the money won’t be a concern, but by signing Smith, the QB position will be “halfwayed.” He’d be the starter while another guy is the future.

Smith makes more sense, but is probably a waste of valuable cap space.

No. 5 Option: Bryce Petty

• New York Jets, Baylor, Age 26
• 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, right-handed
• 2015 NFL Draft: Round 4, Pick 4

The No. 5 option is simple, yet another in-house option nobody believes in (similarly to Christian Hackenberg).

As it stands right now, Petty’s the guy who’ll get the call once the suits in the front office force Todd Bowles to make a change. It’s not Josh McCown‘s fault. In fact, he’s been everything (and more) in terms of what the organization and fans expected heading into August.

It’s simply the nature of the business.

If the fanbase had its way, Petty or Hackenberg would be touching the center’s ass this coming Sunday when New York plays host to the Kansas City Chiefs. Although it probably won’t go down like that, Petty could do some serious damage when he does get that call.

Think about it. Should Petty impress to the degree that it leaves “franchise quarterback” notions in Mikey Mac’s head, future draft picks and assets could be saved.

Should Petty play as well as possible in the coming weeks, a drafted would certainly still be on the wishlist. But perhaps they decide to go second-round QB instead of first.

The in-house guy is always the best option when talent and potential are even across the board.

No. 4 Option: Josh Rosen

• UCLA, Junior, Age 20
• 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, right-handed
• 2018 NFL Draft Projection: Top 5 selection

What most scouts love about the kid is his smoothness. He plays and acts like he belongs to the elite class at any level. He’s not a tremendous athlete, but does move around the pocket extremely well. His release his quick and does move through progressions and manipulate safeties at an elite collegiate level.

It’s amazing the difference a year makes.

At the end of last college football season, it was Sam Darnold and everybody else. Darnold was hyped up as the “generational talent” while the rest followed.

Now, it’s Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold and everybody else. Actually, it’s more than that. There is a myriad of projections involving five or more signal-callers.

It does seem like Josh Rosen is atop the leaderboard at this very moment. Throwing for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions, Rosen’s eclipsed Darnold on many draft boards.

And now that he fully declared himself for the draft by running out with the seniors on senior night, all the kid’s doing now is waiting for his top-five selection.

Maccagnan is doing the appropriate thing by keeping tabs on the kid, but we have him at No 4 purely due to head-to-head competition with Darnold. Both will probably fall as top three picks and the Jets will most likely fall outside of that area in the first round.

Extra assets would have to be relented to land Rosen.

No. 3 Option: Andrew Luck

• Indianapolis Colts, Stanford, Age 28
• 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, right-handed
• 2012 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 1

Speaking of generational quarterback talents, let’s discuss Andrew Luck.

Yes, the shoulder is scary. The kid who twice put his talentless Indianapolis Colts on his shoulder and marched them through the NFL Playoffs is the greatest mystery in the NFL at the moment.

First of all, how bad is the shoulder? The man is traveling across the globe for answers. Owner Jim Irsay is rumbling about the injury as less than genuine, as it’s only in his head.

In terms of damaged goods or injury prone, I just don’t see it with Luck. The man never missed a game during the first three years in Indy:

It wasn’t until he fearlessly continued to play hard behind that horrid offensive line that the injuries finally came.

Although reports have surfaced that Luck isn’t going anywhere, perhaps he is secretly taking this thing slowly while knowing he’ll never play for the organization ever again. I know I wouldn’t after hearing what my owner had to say about me.

Luck is the second best QB option for the Jets under one condition … the price must be right.

Under normal circumstances, At least two first rounders (possibly three) would be needed for a talent like Luck. In this case, who knows? Maybe the Jets could snag the guy on the cheap and remain off-the-hook for a big number of that guaranteed money he has coming to him.

It’s risky, no doubt. But Andrew Luck is, by far, the best NFL quarterback on this list and it’s not even close.

No. 2 Option: Sam Darnold

• USC, Redshirt Sophomore, Age 20
• 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, right-handed
• 2018 NFL Draft Projection: Top 3 selection

The first issue scouts yell at the moon about concerning Sam Darnold is his long delivery. His release isn’t quick like Rosen or Allen. In fact, he matches up very well with Andrew Luck (while at Stanford). What I love and what separates him from Rosen is the intangibles from the pocket. His pocket awareness is elite and his clutch composure is sublime. He possesses that extra it factor that does it for me.

Don’t overthink it. Sam Darnold is the best quarterback talent in this draft. He’s perhaps the best QB talent since Luck (aside from a few Carson Wentz fans).

The reason he falls to No. 2 on this list is purely due to the fact New York would have to pay mightily to acquire his services. The cost of moving into the top two of the draft is ridiculous.

A slightly down year in 2017 shouldn’t sway the thought of the 2018 draft as owned by Darnold. What the kid showed in the Rose Bowl last January is just the beginning.

He’s a pure playmaker from the QB spot. Although he’s not a pure athlete, his mobility is absolutely top-notch at the NFL level and when he throws on the run, NFL scouts go wild.

His frame, his age, his arm — it’s everything an NFL scout drools over this time of year.

While, yes, he would cost the Jets significant assets (as they’d have to trade up to the No. 1 or 2 spot, much easier if the San Francisco 49ers are present), it’d be worth every penny.

Don’t overthink it. The kid has everything you want in an NFL quarterback.

No. 1 Option: Josh Allen

• Wyoming, Junior, Age 21
• 6-foot-5, 233 pounds, right-handed
• 2018 NFL Draft Projection: First Round selection

He’s a bigger quarterback and has a golden arm. In fact, his arm is so strong that touch on certain passes needs to be a working point. He’s not Ben Roethlisberger big, but does mirror the man in certain pocket situations. Many scouts beleive he has the highest ceiling of all the 2018 signal-callers.

The news is already out. The New York Jets reportedly love Josh Allen. Although, they also reportedly loved Mitchell Trubisky a draft ago. So, who the hell knows.

What’s intriguing about Allen is that in a loaded QB class such as this (whether it turns out that way or not), he won’t cost you a top-five selection (most likely). Instead, he may go around the No. 10 through 15 range.

And, obviously, this is exactly where the Jets may land in the first round making the match all-too-perfect.

He’s listed as the best option not only because he’s a talented franchise quarterback prospect who possesses the greatest arm in the draft, but because he is the most realistic option at the moment.

The Jets can come away with their new face of the franchise with a sheer first round pick. No extra assets, trades or funny business needed. A clean call to Josh Allen in the first round while moving on in plugging other holes.