Jets have perfect chance to add QB fans begged for before draft

During the 2025 NFL pre-draft process, many fans of the New York Jets were enamored with the idea of drafting a Day 3 quarterback. After Jordan Travis retired, the team floated around names like Will Howard, Quinn Ewers, and even Syracuse signal-caller Kyle McCord to develop behind Justin Fields in the team's quarterback room.

But the Jets came away from the draft without selecting a quarterback, instead opting to sign Missouri’s Brady Cook as an undrafted free agent. That decision left fans wondering if the team had missed out on a developmental passer with ties to the area.

But that opportunity fell back into their lap as McCord was waived by the Eagles on Monday afternoon, and Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey could bring the sixth-round pick to Florham Park.

Fans on social media have already been clamoring for the new regime to sign the 22-year-old, who has the collegiate pedigree worth taking a chance on.

Jets could take a flier on Kyle McCord as a developmental project

McCord grew up in Mount Laurel, which is just a 90-minute drive from the Jets facility in Florham Park. He was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, eventually committing to Ohio State.

He spent his first two seasons in Columbus backing up C.J. Stroud and went 11-1 with 24 touchdowns in his first season as a starter. And he was notably a teammate of Garrett Wilson with the Buckeyes.

McCord then transferred back to the New York area, and his 4,779 passing yards and 34 passing touchdowns at Syracuse in 2024 both marked career-highs. Beyond the numbers, he brings real tools: a strong arm, a 6-foot-3 frame, and the experience of starting at two high-level Power Four schools.

However, the All-ACC quarterback struggled in the preseason. McCord completed just 42.9% of his passes and threw two interceptions en route to a measly 43.1 passer rating, which led to the Eagles striking a deal to acquire Sam Howell from Minnesota while Tanner McKee is nursing an injury.

McCord still did some good throughout the summer, managing to leapfrog Dorian Thompson-Robinson — who was also waived — in Philadelphia’s QB pecking order.

But in the case of the Jets, Cook showed flashes this summer after he beat out Adrian Martinez to be the QB3 behind Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor. The Jets might prefer to keep Cook around as their practice squad developmental quarterback instead.

If the Jets are serious about building quarterback depth and protecting themselves for the future, the answer might be sitting right in their backyard. So maybe Gang Green takes a chance on him for their practice squad with the potential for him to emerge as a quality backup in the future.

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