The New York Jets have made a move to secure a potential successor to Aaron Rodgers. In a strategic move during the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft, the Jets traded up to snag former Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis.
This past Saturday, the Jets made their move, trading picks No. 185 and 190 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles to secure Travis with the No. 171 overall pick. It was a bold move that showcased their confidence in Travis' abilities.
At just 23 years old, Travis was the eighth quarterback selected in this year's draft, following a lineup of six quarterbacks taken in the first round on Thursday. The seventh quarterback, Spencer Rattler from South Carolina, was picked up by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 150 overall pick.
Travis had an impressive college career, playing one season with the Louisville Cardinals and five seasons with the Florida State Seminoles. Over his six college seasons, he completed 637 passes with a 62% completion rate, throwing for 8,715 yards, 66 touchdowns, and boasting a passing efficiency rating of 150.6.
Joe Douglas, the Jets' general manager, spoke about the decision to draft Travis. "I'm a big believer in drafting quarterbacks every year," Douglas said. "If you hit on a few, you can turn those into future picks or they develop into starters elsewhere, like Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks, and (Matt) Hasselbeck did."
Travis was on track to be a Heisman finalist in the 2023 season until Game 11, when he suffered a fractured and dislocated left ankle, ending his season and the Seminoles' hopes for a College Football Playoff berth. Despite missing out on the playoffs, the Seminoles dominated the Orange Bowl, defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 63-3.
As Travis continues to recover from his injury, there is optimism that he will be ready for training camp, according to NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 200 pounds, Travis was named the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 after leading the Seminoles to an 11-0 record before his injury.
With Rodgers at the helm and Travis learning from one of the best, the Jets' quarterback room shows promise for the future. If all goes well, the Jets could become a formidable force in their division and the conference for years to come.
Login