The New York Jets were a team that had postseason ambitions heading into the 2024 season with a healthy Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
While Aaron Rodgers is under contract, reports suggest the Jets are going to part ways with him. New York can save almost $10 million by cutting or trading the quarterback with a post-June 1 designation and that appears to be the route the team will go.
The team is currently slated to pick seventh in the 2025 NFL Draft, and one of the top quarterbacks is unlikely to be available at that point thanks to there being four quarterback-needy teams in front of them.
However, in NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter’s latest mock, the Jets trade back into the end of the first round to get their quarterback of choice.
Reuter has the Jets selecting Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham with the seventh pick and then trading with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 31st pick. With that pick, Reuter has the Jets selecting quarterback Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss.
Dart threw for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024 and finished his collegiate career with 11,970 passing yards, 1,541 rushing yards and 95 total scores. The quarterback led the SEC in completion percentage and yards while leading the Rebels to a 9-3 record this previous season.
As Reuter mentions, Dart has above-average athleticism and a strong arm. These traits could lead to many teams being interested in the quarterback in the second round, so a trade up may be necessary.
Through 39 games at Ole Miss, Dart threw for 10,617 yards with 72 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Dart also rushed for 1,498 yards and 12 scores in his Ole Miss career, showing off that dual-threat ability.
While Dart’s athleticism and arm strength intrigue teams, his struggles under pressure and his ability to transition to a pro-style offense may cause him to fall.
However, the Jets went the veteran quarterback route with Rodgers and that didn’t pan out, so the team may prefer to revert to a raw rookie passer with promising traits.
