Jets eyeing young QB to back up Aaron Rodgers could be perfect Day 3 strategy

Even with the offensive line in the shambolic state it's in and the fact the wide receiver room has exactly one good player in Garrett Wilson, the NY Jets' top priority this offseason should be adding a veteran quarterback that can back up Aaron Rodgers after his Achilles injury last year.

Joe Douglas will likely spend the early stages of free agency trying to bring in a veteran of some renown, but the latest buzz makes it seem like the idea of using one of their later NFL Draft picks on a long-term developmental project might appeal to this team.

In an interview with SNY, Douglas declared 2024 as a very "Jet-friendly draft" as they try to add talent. Douglas called this draft deep at offensive line, wide receiver, and quarterback. Rich Cimini added that it should surprise no one if they take a developmental prospect on Day 3 to back up Rodgers.

NY Jets could draft Day 3 quarterback to back up Aaron Rodgers

The consensus top three (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels) have started to separate themselves, and it seems unlikely that any one of the next tier of fringe first-round prospects (JJ McCarthy, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr) last past the second round. After that, anything is open season.

The two top prospects after the Big Six are South Carolina's Spencer Rattler and Tulane's Michael Pratt. With Rattler's impressive arm strength and Pratt's very impressive downfield accuracy, both of them could be picked in the third or fourth round by a patient team that will work through their flaws.

Florida State's Jordan Travis might be coming off a severe injury, and he doesn't have the arm talent of anyone mentioned previously, but his mobility is terrific. Travis remains one of the best prospects in this class when it comes to making plays off schedule, and his pocket accuracy is solid.

Tennessee's Joe Milton might be the biggest boom-or-bust prospect at any position this year. Milton played in a Mickey Mouse offense at Tennessee that asked him to do as little as possible as a processor, and his decision-making was poor quite often.

However, at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds with a bazooka of an arm that will be Top 5 in the league on Day 1, Milton will have very vocal supporters.

Provided the Jets make good on their promise to add a veteran, a quarterback room of Rodgers, unnamed veteran to be named later, and a Day 3 prospect could give the Jets much more stability at the most important position.