NY Jets likely don’t see Jordan Travis as Aaron Rodgers’ successor.
The NY Jets have gone all in on building around Aaron Rodgers in hopes of capitalizing on the four-time MVP’s Super Bowl window of opportunity. But they realize that Rodgers obviously isn’t a long-term solution.
The 40-year-old QB is coming off a torn Achilles and has hinted that he plans to play for at least the next seasons, but any future beyond that remains uncertain. The Jets are essentially operating within that two-year window.
That’s why it came as little surprise when the Jets opted to use a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis. Many were quick to label Travis as a potential future successor to Rodgers, but that likely isn’t what the Jets had in mind.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini insisted last week that it’s “premature” to refer to Travis as Rodgers’ heir apparent, and it seems obvious that isn’t the Jets’ plan. That isn’t to say the Jets aren’t high on Travis’ potential, but it’s highly unlikely they drafted him with the expectation that he would one day take over for Rodgers.
The NY Jets see Jordan Travis as a developmental backup QB
Of the 88 quarterbacks selected on Day 3 of the NFL Draft between 2010 and 2023, we could realistically label only three as true hits as far as becoming a quality starting QB is concerned: Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, and Brock Purdy.
Purdy is notably the only one of those three drafted in the fifth round or later, and his situation is as unique as any QB in the NFL. This is to suggest that expecting Travis to be anything more than a backup would be a significant bet against prior precedent.
Instead, the Jets likely view Travis as a developmental backup QB prospect, similar to the plans the team had for James Morgan when he was drafted back in 2020. The hope is that Travis can serve as a young and cheap backup for the duration of his rookie contract.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid likened him to longtime Baltimore Ravens backup Tyler Huntley, insisting that a similar career trajectory should be considered a success for the former Florida State standout. The Jets would likely agree with that sentiment.
