Jets Schedule Pre-Draft Visit With Developmental Quarterback
The New York Jets path forward has grown less clear as it pertains to their plan with the 10th pick in April’s NFL Draft – for all the right reasons. Whether the Jets double down at receiver or offensive tackle, pivot with a trade, or take a position most mock drafts haven’t anticipated, it’s clear their options are open.
That includes, hypothetically, a quarterback. New York has spent most of the cycle hoping quarterbacks flood the first nine picks to best secure one of their preferred non-quarterbacks. Frankly, that hasn’t changed, but if general manager Joe Douglas fell in love with a passer, it’d be much more acceptable to make that move after their recent spending spree.
In all likelihood, if the Jets take a quarterback, it will be on Day 3.
Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (13) passes to his teammate. The Florida State Seminoles defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 39-17 at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.
© Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK
Their due diligence has led them to schedule a visit with Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis, per Logan Robinson.
Travis, of course, was part of a Florida State team that went undefeated before Travis suffered a leg injury that ended his season. The Seminoles were then left out of the College Football Playoff and were dismantled in their bowl game against Georgia.
Travis was largely projected as a late-round prospect throughout the cycle, something his injury hasn’t seemed to change. As long as teams check off the medical box, his stock should remain stable.
The biggest factor drawing attention is his exceptional mobility that renders him a true dual-threat quarterback. His arm talent is passable, but limited, and he does enough between the ears to garner interest as a backup.
That doesn’t mean New York should be interested.
It’s hard to call any late-round pick a bad-process decision given the low stakes and unlikely hit rate. Travis wouldn’t necessarily be a bad pick. But the Jets would be better served to kick the can down the road on a young quarterback.
For one, the backup spot is already secured. The Tyord Taylor signing removed the urgency to draft a passer, and grooming a mediocre prospect to be a backup isn’t a fruitful endeavor. That (eventually) means handing the second-string reins to someone who hasn’t played significant time in the league. It is much easier to feel comfortable with a Taylor-type of a backup that has a defined floor higher than a given prospect.
Secondly, taking a quarterback destined to be inactive on game days as a rookie is not worthwhile. Travis isn’t a toolsy prospect with elite traits waiting to be unleashed. He’s an older prospect who doesn’t appear capable of being a game-breaking force. That’s fine – very few are – but the best-case scenario seems to be a cheaper alternative to Taylor. Further, the Jets are knee-deep in a competitive window. They’re effectively going all-in on the 2024 season.
While there’s room to make sustainable picks, such as a succession plan at tackle, New York still needs to find contributors in the NFL Draft. Whether that’s a rotational edge rusher, a stronger second-running back, or a slot receiver to push Xavier Gipson for snaps is yet to be seen, but Douglas shouldn’t be in a rush to “waste” selections on players who definitely won’t see playing time in 2024.
These reasons are underlined by the likelihood that any quarterback prospect becomes a strong starter. Unsurprisingly, this decreases as the draft goes on and is virtually non-existent in the later rounds. If the Jets are looking for a franchise quarterback, they are better off taking an early-round prospect when the time comes. Pinning their hopes on – and potentially giving starts to – a Day 3 quarterback can quickly become a losing proposition.
New York would be better off drafting a quarterback when the time comes for Aaron Rodgers and his backup to move on, spending draft capital – which the Jets lack a surplus of – on more likely contributors.
