Jets Combine Notes: Underrated Quarterback Prospects?
The 2024 Scouting Combine begins this week and that means all 32 organizations will send representatives to scout the next crop of top rookies heading into the NFL.
For a team like the New York Jets, the combine is a great chance to not only scout for major positions of need but also see if there are any "diamond in the rough" prospects that people may be overlooking.
Tulane QB Michael Pratt
Cred: USA Today Wire Photos
As we begin our process of finding out the next best and brightest young players that the NFL has to offer, let's also look and see which positions of value the Jets could be targeting in Indianapolis, and which players make the most sense.
While Gang Green doesn't officially need a quarterback this year, drafting a project to learn behind four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers makes a lot of sense for the organization. Luckily for New York, there's plenty of late-round talent available.
Michael Pratt
You just need to look through Jets Twitter to realize how many fans would like to see Pratt be the heir apparent to Rodgers.
At Tulane, Pratt helped the inexperienced program get off the mat and announce itself as an underrated football school over the last few years.
Pratt may not be considered a top quarterback prospect this year, but a strong combine could allow him to be a late-round steal for some teams looking for projects at the position. Pratt exhibits the kind of leadership and arm talent that the Jets could be looking for in April.
Joe Milton
Milton doesn't have the same kind of draft surge that Hendon Hooker had despite his leg injury last season, but that doesn't mean Milton won't be an interesting prospect.
Milton has the kind of arm talent that would excite plenty of executives but needs to improve on his accuracy and timing at the NFL level. He's the perfect description of a "project passer."
Could the Jets take a flier on a player like this late in the draft while hoping he turns into a late-round steal? Absolutely.
Sam Hartman
There aren't many college quarterbacks coming into the Draft process with as much experience as Sam Hartman.
The Wake Forest and Notre Dame signal-caller could have plenty of suitors late in the Draft due to his experience, leadership, and ability to improvise outside the pocket.
I consider Hartman the antithesis of a passer that Pratt is. Pratt has always focused on protecting the rock and not putting it in harm's way. Hartman has a gun-slinger mentality and can certainly be caught with plenty of turnovers as he was in Notre Dame.
Austin Reed
Like Milton, Austin Reed is a very raw passer. He doesn't have strong deep ball accuracy and isn't the strongest thrower to begin with. That being said, he has solid pocket awareness and could be taught by legitimate quarterback coaches to quicken his release.
A strong combine might keep Reed in the Draft circle, but this is the kind of player the Jets could potentially add as an undrafted free agent immediately following Day Three.
Jordan Travis
Had Travis not suffered a gruesome leg injury late in the season with Florida State, there's a very good chance he would be preparing for a Day Two name-call this year.
Instead, there's certainly a chance the long-time college quarterback might not even be selected in April.
Travis can't be expected to do every drill at the Combine, but the important part for him is the medicals. If he is cleared to do some of the activities or even just get the go-ahead in the coming weeks, that will go a long way to seeing which teams take a flier on him.
