NY Jets news: Jets eyeing mid-round QB, Michael Carter II bold prediction

The NY Jets aren't only pursuing a veteran quarterback (read: Aaron Rodgers) this offseason. The team is also keeping a close eye on a number of quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.

One such quarterback appears to be TCU's Max Duggan. NFL Network's Jane Slater reported on Thursday that the Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, and Dallas Cowboys have all shown interest in the 2022 Davey O'Brien Award winner.

Duggan rose to fame as a senior at TCU following a 2022 season that saw him lead his team to a national championship appearance. While far from the most physically gifted quarterback, some see a role for Duggan as a backup in the NFL.

His combination of leadership, mobility, and intangibles is reminiscent of former Texas and current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger. That might be the role a team like the Jets envisions for him at the next level.

Other NY Jets news

Michael Carter II makes a bold prediction

In a cornerback room headlined by the star-studded duo of Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, Jets nickel cornerback Michael Carter II flew under the radar a bit in 2022. But make no mistake about it — Carter put together an excellent season in his own right.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Carter took to Twitter on Thursday to make a bold prediction about the upcoming 2023 season. Carter vowed to be the best nickel cornerback in the NFL next year.

The former fifth-round pick was already one of the best nickel cornerbacks in football this past season. Of the cornerbacks to play a majority of their snaps in the slot, only L'Jarius Sneed (Kansas City Chiefs) and Isaiah Oliver (Atlanta Falcons) finished with higher Pro Football Focus grades than Carter.

It's hard to disagree with the notion that the Jets have the best cornerback trio in football. While Gardner and Reed garner the most headlines, Carter shouldn't be overlooked.

Jets rank 17th in PFF's pre-draft power rankings

Pro Football Focus released their annual pre-draft power rankings this weekend, and the Jets earned the No. 17 spot on their list. The ranking might seem low, although it doesn't account for the team's likely addition of Aaron Rodgers.

PFF listed Mike White as the Jets' biggest loss and Allen Lazard as the team's most notable addition before going on to praise the Chuck Clark trade.

"Even if the Jets don’t sign Aaron Rodgers, they’ll still be in relatively good shape. The team has a well-rounded roster and almost made the playoffs despite rotating between Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Joe Flacco at the game's most important position in 2022. They also improved their defense by adding safety Chuck Clark, who has graded above 66.0 in each of the past four seasons."

- Amelia Probst, PFF

The Jets will hope to continue climbing up those power rankings as the year goes on. Expect to see them rank a bit higher once the Rodgers trade becomes official.