An in-depth look at NY Jets rookie quarterback Jordan Travis.
With the 171st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the NY Jets select Jordan Travis, quarterback, Florida State University.
After drafting an offensive weapon in Braelon Allen who will have an immediate impact this season, the Jets turned their attention toward the future with hopes that they picked the franchise’s future play caller.
What can Jets fans expect from Jordan Travis? Let’s take a deeper look into his collegiate career, expert comparisons, and more.
Jordan Travis’ measurables and achievements
After stepping into the starting role mid-season in 2020, Jordan Travis became the all-time total offense leader at FSU with 10,554 yards. He also holds records in rush yards for a quarterback (1,910), rush touchdowns for a quarterback (31), and total number of touchdowns (96).
Travis also shares the same number of passing touchdowns as Jameis Winston, who was able to achieve this feat in just two years. In the Seminoles’ last home game of the year, Travis suffered a serious lower leg injury which ended his season.
It was a season in which the College Football playoffs was a real possibility and Travis had his sights set on the Heisman trophy as FSU was 12-0 before his injury. The Seminoles had wins against top college football programs such as LSU, Clemson, and Miami, but were left out of the playoffs due to Travis’ injury.
All this illustrates just how important Jordan Travis was to FSU. In 2023, he threw for 20 touchdowns and added seven more on the ground. He accomplished this while only throwing two interceptions and had zero fumbles lost. These stats helped him earn ACC Player of the Year.
Jordan Travis’ NFL Combine and prospect ratings
As a part of NFL.com’s draft coverage, they assign prospect grades to each player at the combine. Jordan Travis was assigned a grade of 5.89, translating to the talent level of an average backup.
He was unable to compete in the combine due to his injury, but any potential combine performances were unlikely to alter his draft stock. Being 24 years old and playing five years’ worth of college football, Travis has provided enough tape for evaluators to understand his skills and limitations.
Scouts note Travis’ mobility and ability to throw on the run as some of his strongest skills, which truly defines him as a dual-threat quarterback. As such, he has demonstrated pocket presence and knows when to leave it and create plays downfield. He also can speed up his release when necessary.
There are two major red flags for Travis: significant injury history and modest arm strength. Travis suffered a season-ending leg fracture and was in a walking boot for nearly four months.
The Jets got a good look at Travis when they hosted him for a visit this past April. The injury doesn’t seem to be a concern for Joe Douglas, and he won’t be rushed back into action as he will most likely be inactive to start the season as QB3.
His arm strength is a little more concerning, as that is typically a trait that cannot be taught or improved once in the NFL. He does have very good accuracy, which combined with his legs can help mitigate any lack of arm talent.
Scouts also note Jordan Travis has difficulty with pre-snap and post-snap reads, struggling to get through his progressions in a timely fashion.
Luckily for the Jets, reading defenses and going through progressions is something that the coaches can work with him on and help him improve. And given the status of the current quarterback room with Tyrod Taylor and Aaron Rodgers in front of him, Travis should have plenty of opportunities to sit back and watch.
