Could the New York Jets find their future quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft?
With the Aaron Rodgers experiment headed towards failure, the Jets again will be exploring the market and the draft for their future hope at the position. Currently with the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, the Jets don’t appear to be a team in the mix for the top 2 quarterback prospects, Colorado’s Sheduer Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward.
The hope would be to find a QB later in the draft. There are some intriguing prospects like Jaxon Dart, Dillon Gabriel and Jalen Milroe. But what if one of the top two quarterbacks fall? What if Sanders is there for the taking at No. 7?
That would present an interesting option for a team that hasn’t been successful in recent drafts taking a quarterback in the top 10. While Sam Darnold, - selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft,) - has found his rejuvenation as an NFL QB, another top 3 pick of the Jets, Zach Wilson, is trending towards being a career backup.
So, would the Jets be the best situation for the Colorado dual-threat quarterback?
2025 NFL Mock Draft: NFL.com’s Eric Edholm links Sanders to the Jets
The answer is yes, according to Eric Edholm in his first 2025 NFL Mock Draft. In a draft filled with surprise picks, especially at the top of the draft, Sanders slides down into the hands of the Jets. With a new general manager, new head coach and possible some better luck, the Jets pounce on the chance to select Sanders.
Edholm writes:
“I'm not buying the "Sanders at No. 1" talk, and I thought about sliding him down further (to the Steelers?), but then I remembered the Jets don't really have a QB. Maybe it doesn't happen, but this pairing would be ... interesting.”
Interesting in the respect that the Jets are a team that has a strong defense and can support Sanders with a running game with the duo of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. If the Jets can keep Garrett Wilson happy, the 1-2 punch of him and Davante Adams would set Sanders up to have a similar offense as he had in Colorado. In fact, he wouldn’t have to do too much and just play within the gameplan behind a solid running game. It would be like Bo Nix in Denver.
But, again, a pick this high would have to have the right coaching around him. That will be the challenge for new Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. When it comes to talent and confidence, Sanders would certainly add to the headlines in New York, but whether he’s the answer will depend on a lot more. That starts with patience.
NFL Mocks has Shedeur Sanders going to the other New York team.
Given the NFL needy teams at the top of the draft, it seems unlikely Sanders will slide down to No. 7 without another team trading up to draft him. NFL Mocks has Sanders going to the New York Giants where he will have a similar type of talent as Travis Hunter to throw the ball to in Malik Nabers.
While the Tennessee Titans are flirting with the idea of Sanders No. 1 overall, Ward is trending as the top QB taken in the draft. The Browns at No. 2 is the wild card because they could take a shot at Sanders or trade down with another team looking for an answer at QB.
As for the Jets, NFL Mocks has them going defense with either Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham or cornerback Will Johnson. At that spot, the Jets will go for a sure bet talent if a quarterback is not there for the taking. Again, there is an interesting group of second-tier quarterback talent that could intrigue a team like the Jets as well.