Trevor Siemian and Brett Rypien are both set for free agency this upcoming offseason as Zach Wilson will be traded. Three leaving quarterbacks (unless New York is able to re-sign Siemian or Rypien) means that the Jets will QB shopping for backups behind Aaron Rodgers.
The Jets hold the 10th overall pick and are in need of a future starting quarterback once Rodgers retires, which is expected to be after the 2025/2026 season. The Jets want to draft a quarterback and have the draftee basically red shirt behind the future hall of fame QB and learn before taking over the reigns.
In 2000, the Jets selected Chad Pennington 18th overall, and had the Marshall product sit and learn behind Vinny Testaverde for two seasons. Pennington did see playing time during those two seasons, though it was limited. Expect to see something very similar over the next 1-2 seasons with the next Jets QB draftee.
The 2024 QB draft class is stacked. With that said the Jets shouldn’t use their one and only first round pick on a red shirt thrower.
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are all expected to go before No. 10; New York would have to trade up to acquire one of those sought after QBs. The Jets are in desperate need of an offensive lineman, and CBS Sports is projecting the Jets to select JC Latham (OT, Alabama). JC Latham helps the Jets fill one of those starting jobs on the line.
QBs like Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy will likely drop to the second round. You could add Bo Nix to that list as the Ducks’ QB is projected to go in the low 40s (according to CBS Sports), but also has been viewed as a top 10 draft option as well, so it’s a little difficult to pinpoint his place.
The Aaron Rodgers trade had New York give up their second round pick, so the Jets have to wait to the third round, unless the organization trades up. Drafttek.com is projecting the Jets to draft Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III in the sixth round.