The Jets have already called their starting quarterback job a “tough decision,” but coach Todd Bowles denied that a decision for the week has already been made after rookie quarterback Sam Darnold got more work with the starting offense in practice Sunday.

According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, Darnold got his most extensive work with the starters of the offseason, taking more reps with the ones than either Josh McCown or Teddy Bridgewater.

Darnold was also the first quarterback out during what was supposed to be a live scrimmage period, the story said, before rain cut the practice short. Bowles did say all of that was "no indication" of a decision.

Tight end Chris Herndon has the skills to make an important contribution sooner rather than later. Although the rookie fourth-round pick insists that “I’m not looking too far ahead,” it’s tantalizing to envision Sam Darnold and Herndon making sweet music together for the next decade.

The 6-foot-4, 253-pound rookie is competing with four others for the starting tight end job, but know this: The organization believes that Herndon will rise above the pack and produce in 2018.

Related players: Clive Walford, Eric Tomlinson

The story said the team loves Herndon and believes he will be a difference maker moving forward. He was described as having elusiveness, nastiness, and power. Also, as the story pointed out, the TE position "has been a barren wasteland" for most of Todd Bowles' regime, so there are some high expectations.

With all the recent talk about the contractual status of Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold, one key fact likely has gone overlooked: Josh McCown continues to be QB1 in New York.

“Josh is one, Teddy Bridgewater is two, Sam Darnold is three right now,” coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Monday. “That’s what I can tell you.”

McCown likely did enough last year to at least be the top guy as things stand now early in camp. HC Todd Bowles said McCown would have to be beat out by Bridgewater or Darnold. With Darnold just signing on Monday, he's obviously behind in the process.

It took longer than expected, but the New York Jets are finally getting quarterback Sam Darnold under contract.

Following a contract dispute, the Jets and Darnold are expected to reach an agreement on a deal and the rookie quarterback is expected to be at the team facility Monday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Related players: Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater

The Jets will sign their first-round draft pick to a four-year contract for the slotted amount of $30.2 million. The holdup, as we reported yesterday, was specific clauses and language. The big sticking point appears to be default language pertaining to the guaranteed money, the ESPN story said. Darnold, although behind at this point, is still expected to compete with Bridgewater and McCown for the starting QB job.

For the third straight day, Jets quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown split the reps evenly in 11-on-11 and seven-on-seven play, and, on the first day of hitting, both quarterbacks started slowly. Both got better later. Unofficially, McCown was 7-for-12, with two touchdown passes and one “sack’’ in 11-on-11 action. He had one throwaway. He was 6-for-6 in seven-on-sevens. Bridgewater was awful in seven-on-sevens—1-for-4 with a pick-six by cornerback Derrick Jones. But Bridgewater was better in the 11-on-11s, going 13-for-18 (one throwaway) with two TDs, including the play of the day on the final play of practice, when he threw a ball to the back corner of the end zone and it was grabbed by a diving Tre McBride, who had a man on him.

Related players: Sam Darnold

Darnold continues to be a no-show at camp which leaves all the work for Bridgewater and McCown. Of course, Bridgewater is coming off a major knee injury and McCown is 39. The holdup for Darnold is apparently "offset" language in his contract.

"I expect the Jets to give Teddy Bridgewater plenty of reps during training camp and the preseason games to see what he can do. He and rookie Sam Darnold should get a lot more work than Josh McCown, who is more of a known commodity," said NY Post writer Brian Costello.

"If Bridgewater outplays McCown in training camp and the coaching staff does not think Darnold is ready, I don’t think they would hesitate to give him the starting job.

If Bridgewater and McCown both play well in camp and the Jets trust Darnold enough to make him the No. 2 quarterback, Bridgewater could find himself on the trading block at the end of the summer."

The story went on to say Bridgewater has looked good during the spring and he moved around without any problems. Costello went on to say he thinks the only way Bridgewater stays with the Jets is if the team doesn't think Darnold is ready and they want him to be more of a third quarterback.

Todd Bowles said Josh McCown will start at quarterback come training camp, followed by Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold. He indicated things could still change before Week 1.

While the Jets selected Darnold third overall, it appears they are willing to let the rookie develop before thrusting him into the starting lineup. The veteran McCown is still the favorite to open the year as the Jets starter.

The official Twitter account of the New York Jets tweeted the news from head coach Todd Bowles that QB Christian Hackenberg was dealt to the Oakland Raiders for a 2019 conditional seventh-round draft pick.

The Jets' QB depth chart has had quite the overhaul from last year. Incumbent starter Josh McCown remains, while the team added Teddy Bridgewater via free agency and Sam Darnold via the draft; they released Bryce Petty earlier this offseason and have now dealt Hackenberg.

No matter how much new Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has praised Hackenberg in the past, it's unlikely this trade will turn into a positive for the Raiders or Hackenberg. He goes from one muddied QB depth chart to the next, where he'll likely begin his new Raiders journey as the team's fourth-string quarterback behind Derek Carr, E.J. Manuel, and Connor Cook.