Jets dodged an embarrassing QB move thanks to division rival

The New York Jets finalized their initial 53-man roster on Wednesday and immediately began piecing together their practice squad. As always, there were tough cuts and a handful of intriguing names brought back, but one reported target certainly raised a few eyebrows.

SNY's Connor Hughes reported on Wednesday that the Jets were "very interested" in signing former New York Giants quarterback to their practice squad. DeVito was waived by the Giants on Tuesday before being claimed by the Jets' AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots.

The New Jersey native joins a Patriots quarterback room that also features starter Drake Maye and veteran backup Joshua Dobbs, and according to Hughes, DeVito might be "in line" for the QB2 job.

Hughes also reported that the Jets not only wanted to add DeVito to their practice squad, but they intended to eventually elevate him to their active roster. The Patriots might have just saved the Jets from themselves.

The Jets thankfully avoided adding Tommy DeVito to their roster

DeVito’s breakout moment with the Giants came in 2023, when his underdog story briefly made him a fan favorite. But while his Giants were able to rattle off three straight wins with him at quarterback, his performances weren't exactly inspiring.

Over the past two seasons combined, DeVito ranks 46th out of 47 quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks in adjusted EPA per play at –0.163 — ahead of only ex-Jets draft bust Zach Wilson.

His offenses averaged fewer than 200 passing yards and under 16 points per game across his eight career starts. Those three consecutive road wins in 2023 were largely a result of stellar defensive play and a few timely takeaways.

Now 27 years old, DeVito offers little in the way of developmental upside. He isn’t a particularly dynamic athlete, his arm strength is middling at best, and he lacks the traits to function as a reliable NFL backup — let alone justify investing time in his development.

DeVito's average depth of target was just 6.5 yards in 2023, one of the lowest marks in the NFL. That checkdown-heavy style may have propped up his completion percentage, but it doesn’t fit what the Jets want to build around Justin Fields and this offense.

In reality, DeVito is a fringe practice squad quarterback whose miracle run in 2023 gave him a bigger reputation than his performance ever deserved. Meanwhile, the Jets' quarterback room is set.

Fields is the young, high-variance starter with Tyrod Taylor serving as the experienced, veteran backup. The Jets re-signed undrafted rookie Brady Cook to their practice squad, giving the team a high-upside young QB with legitimate developmental traits to bet on.

Wasting a roster spot on DeVito at the expense of Brady Cook — who might not have even made the practice squad if DeVito were added — would have been a major misstep for the Jets.

Thankfully, the Patriots swooped in to save the Jets from making a mistake of their own creation.

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