5 QB prospects who can be the NY Jets version of Brock Purdy

The NY Jets are rumored to be eyeing a quarterback at some point in the 2024 NFL Draft. While it's unlikely the Jets use a high draft pick on a QB, they very well could look to draft a developmental quarterback on Day 3.

The hit rate with quarterbacks taken on the third day of the draft over the years is remarkably low, but one notable example of a hit stands out in recent memory. That player is, of course, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

Purdy is an outlier, and expecting every (or really any) draft class to have "another Brock Purdy" is rather foolish. Still, the NFL Draft is ultimately a guessing game. There are a few late-round quarterback prospects in this year's class that stand out as intriguing Jets targets.

With the Jets owning the famed Mr. Irrelevant pick in this year's draft, let's take a look at five quarterback prospects who could become New York's version of Brock Purdy.

5. The NY Jets could draft BYU QB Kedon Slovis

The last BYU quarterback the Jets drafted didn't work out very well, but wouldn't it be poetic (or at least coincidental) if the Jets replaced their former No. 2 overall BYU quarterback with a BYU quarterback taken with the final (or second-to-last) pick in the draft?

Kedon Slovis began his career at USC in 2019, taking the college football world by storm as a true freshman. Slovis finished his first collegiate season with 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions, earning Freshman All-American honors in the process.

Unfortunately, Slovis has never been able to recapture the magic of that freshman year. A brief stint at Pittsburgh in 2022 and a more successful year with BYU in 2023 paved the way for Slovis to be considered a possible Day 3 pick.

At 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, Slovis has an NFL-caliber arm with solid athleticism, but his accuracy and decision-making have struggled mightily when under pressure. Still, there's enough on tape to believe he could play at the NFL level.

4. The NY Jets could draft Samford QB Michael Hiers

The Jets brought three known quarterback prospects in for top-30 visits. Two of those players are seen as mid-round prospects: Tulane's Michael Pratt and Florida State's Jordan Travis. The other is Samford's Michael Hiers.

Hiers is widely seen as more of a late-round/UDFA prospect, but it is notable that the Jets saw enough in him to bring him in for a visit. The 24-year-old put up impressive numbers at the FCS level, finishing with 36 touchdowns and just four interceptions in 2022.

Hiers may lack elite physical traits, but he makes up for it with excellent accuracy and anticipation in all areas of the field. The biggest thing that held him back this past season was turnovers.

Hiers is the same height and only a few pounds lighter than Purdy, making the comparison an obvious one. The former faces a steeper climb in competition level, but the Jets are clearly interested.

3. The NY Jets could draft South Alabama QB Carter Bradley

The son of former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley, Carter Bradley is your prototypical pocket passer with limited athleticism that will limit his ceiling at the NFL level.

Bradley has impressive arm talent and good size for the quarterback position. At his best, Bradley looked like one of the more talented quarterbacks in the country, but inconsistencies plagued him throughout his college career.

The former Toledo recruit struggled with accuracy due in large part to his frantic footwork. His lack of creation ability outside of the structure of a system is also a notable negative.

Bradley has the required size and arm talent to compete at the NFL level, but his floor and ceiling are lowered significantly by his flaws. Perhaps Robert Saleh's connection to Gus Bradley makes the South Alabama quarterback a more likely target, however.

2. The NY Jets could draft Kentucky QB Devin Leary

Devin Leary is likely the most high-profile quarterback prospect on this list. It would be a surprise if Leary fell all the way to the final pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

A native of Sicklerville, NJ, Leary lacks elite size for the position, but he still has one of the strongest arms in this draft class. His tape is reminiscent of Baker Mayfield at times — both the good and the bad.

Leary spent five years at NC State — including a fantastic 2021 season — before transferring to Kentucky for his final year of eligibility. His overall accuracy is his biggest detriment, but Leary has the arm talent and college production to stick on an NFL roster.

If he's still on the board when the Jets are picking in the seventh round, Leary would be a very appealing target as a developmental QB3 to learn behind Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor.

1. The NY Jets could draft Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman

As far as one-to-one comparisons are concerned, you probably aren't going to find a better prospect comparison for Brock Purdy than Sam Hartman. Hartman is roughly the exact same size as Purdy was coming out of Iowa State, and the two players share a lot of similar traits.

Hartman spent five seasons at Wake Forest, breaking numerous records as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in program history, before transferring to Notre Dame for his final collegiate season.

Although he got off to a great start, Hartman tailed off in the second half of the season, tanking his draft stock in the process. Hartman lacks elite physical traits and gets into trouble often because of his lack of arm strength, but he processes quickly and has shown the ability to improvise and create out of structure.

It's those very traits that allowed Purdy to be maximized in Kyle Shanahan's system. Hartman needs the right system to fit in at the NFL level (and he's likely a slightly worse athlete than Purdy), but if you squint hard enough, the similarities are there.