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.
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.
Travis won't be asked to play in his rookie season, although that can never be ruled out. The Jets fully intend for him to redshirt in 2024 behind Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor. That redshirt could very well last two years, given both Rodgers' and Taylor's contracts.
An ideal scenario would see Travis impress and develop over the next two years to the point where he can serve as a quality backup QB behind whoever Rodgers' successor is in 2026. If he somehow develops into something more, great, but that's not the plan the Jets have in mind.
Drafting and developing cheap backup quarterbacks has become a trend on Day 3 of the draft in recent years, and the Jets are hoping Travis can become their version of Tyler Huntley, Aidan O'Connell, Sam Howell, Jacoby Brissett, etc.
Jordan Travis may not be the backup plan for Aaron Rodgers, but he is the planned backup of the future.
