NY Jets’ quietest QB move of the offseason was also their smartest

The New York Jets opted to pass on selecting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, a decision that left some fans scratching their heads, especially in the wake of Jordan Travis’ surprise retirement just days after the draft concluded.

With Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor currently leading the quarterback room, the Jets opted not to use a single one of their seven selections on a developmental passer. The decision was notable, particularly given how the board fell.

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, once viewed as a potential first-round pick, was still available well into Day 3. Yet the Jets, despite meeting with Sanders before the draft, chose to go in a different direction.

Some may question the call. But make no mistake — the Jets made the right move.

Why the NY Jets were right to pass on a QB in the 2025 NFL Draft

There’s no shortage of reasons why the Jets made the correct call. For starters, the success rate for quarterbacks drafted outside of Round 1 is abysmal. Between 2010 and 2024, 93 quarterbacks were selected on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.

Of those, only two — Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins — have started at least 50 games in their careers. Brock Purdy might soon join that club, but even including him, that’s still a hit rate just barely over 3%.

The numbers aren’t much better on Day 2. Just 9 of the 32 quarterbacks drafted in Rounds 2 and 3 between 2010 and 2014 became long-term starters.

And that era includes a long list of names like Christian Hackenberg, Garrett Grayson, Davis Webb, and Kellen Mond, swings that amounted to little more than lighting a top-100 pick on fire.

It's not just about finding a starter, either. Most Day 2 and Day 3 quarterbacks struggle to even stick on a roster for more than a few years. More often than not, it's the definition of wasting a pick.

While Day 2 and especially Day 3 picks are often lottery tickets, you're far more likely to hit on a quality contributor or even a future starter at positions that don’t require the same steep developmental curve as quarterback.

Whether it’s a rotational edge rusher, special teams ace, or a developmental defensive back, those picks tend to return more reliable value across the board.

That’s not to say it never makes sense to take a flier on a mid-to-late-round quarterback, but only when your roster can afford it. The 2025 Jets, led by new general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, weren’t in that position.

This is a team still in the early stages of reshaping its identity. Every pick is valuable. The Jets used theirs to add high-upside foundational pieces like Armand Membou, Mason Taylor, and Azareye’h Thomas, players who can contribute sooner and address real depth chart needs.

It also doesn’t help that this year’s quarterback class was widely regarded as one of the worst in recent memory. Most evaluators agreed there wasn’t much value to be had in the middle or late rounds.

If anything, the one real exception to that was Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, a polarizing prospect who, despite his undeniable talent, slid all the way to Round 5 due to a combination of off-field concerns, team-fit questions, and rumored issues in pre-draft meetings.

There’s a real argument that Sanders was worth the risk strictly from a value perspective. But considering how the Jets just moved on from a massive Aaron Rodgers headache, it makes sense that the current regime wasn’t eager to invite another potential distraction into the locker room.

In a weak quarterback class and with a roster full of real needs, the Jets were smart to use their picks on players who could actually help. Passing on a QB was the correct decision.

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