Now that the Super Bowl is in the rearview mirror, we are now on the heels of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
A total of 329 prospects will attend this year’s event, which will again take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 24 through March 3.
The NFL Draft is over two months away (April 24-26), but many have already begun speculating who the Jets may select seventh overall. Last week, the Jets officially announced they would be moving on from Aaron Rodgers after two disappointing seasons.
With Rodgers no longer in the Green and White, the Jets will undoubtedly be in the market for a quarterback this spring. With that in mind, let’s answer a few questions in this week’s Jets mailbag.
Should the Jets trade up to one and get [Miami Hurricanes quarterback] Cam Ward? – @jetsorioles
Before I answer that, people must understand the cost of moving up in the NFL Draft. It depends on how many spots a team wants to move up and the number of draft picks involved.
If we use the trade value chart from Drafttek, the Jets No. 7 pick is worth 1,500 points. If Gang Green wanted to move up from No. 7 to No. 1, it would cost them 1,500 points because the Titans’ top pick is worth 3,000 points.
Essentially, that means the Jets would only have to give the Titans not only their No. 7 pick in this year’s draft but also likely their second-round pick, first-round pick in 2026, and likely a 2027 pick.
Given all the Jets’ needs, I’m not sure moving up in this particular draft is wise. Ward is by far the best quarterback in this year’s draft, but the Jets are not a quarterback away from contending like they appeared to be before acquiring Rodgers.
The Jets’ best course of action would be to take the best available player at one of their positions of need (wide receiver, right tackle, defensive tackle, cornerback) and build the best team possible. I also expect them to sign a veteran quarterback to compete with Tyrod Taylor for the starting quarterback job.
Justin Fields and Jameis Winston are just a few options the Jets could potentially target in free agency, which begins on March 12. The 2026 quarterback class will have many more options for the Jets, which would be the draft in which I would swing a trade.
If Shedeur Sanders drops to No. 7, do the Jets take him?- @bostonrandy
They would undoubtedly have to consider Sanders if he falls to seventh. Sanders is a top-level passer who has impressive accuracy and excellent ball placement.
He is also a quarterback who can stay in the pocket and is willing to take a hit when defenders barraging him. Sanders’s best attributes are his poise and coolness in late-game pressure situations. However, he also has significant questions.
Sanders tends to hold on to the ball too long, which could lead to turnovers at the next level. He also needs to improve his anticipation skills, meaning he needs to throw to a spot and hope his receivers can get there. Instead, Sanders sees his receivers and then throws the ball, which also leads to him holding the ball longer than he should.
I highly doubt Sanders makes it to No. 7. But with his accuracy and abilities, the Jets should skip to the podium if Sanders is shockingly still available.
If [Derek] Carr shakes free, wouldn’t he be a better option than [Kirk] Cousins from a system-fit perspective as a cheap bridge QB? –@PaulFiore
I agree with you, Paul. Carr has his negatives, but I believe he would be a better option than Cousins.
For those who aren’t aware, the Saints could potentially release Carr. The Saints have to shed some cap room ahead of free agency, which could include Carr. He is due $40 million next season and will count $51.45 million against the salary cap in 2025 if New Orleans doesn’t restructure his contract.
Carr, 34, has told reporters that he will not take a pay cut, which could force the Saints to release him. New Orleans is projected to be $54 million over the salary cap.
If Carr is released, the Jets could do a lot worse. In 10 games last season, Carr passed for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. However, Carr sat out the season’s final four games because of a fracture in his non-throwing hand.
Cousins will be 37 when the season begins and has already shown signs of decline last season. That factored into him being benched for Michael Penix Jr. late last year.
Given the choice between the two, I would take Carr, assuming he becomes available.
How does the Jets ownership and Glenn spin trying to compete this year with no Rodgers when the team hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2010 @Baby_Jesus14
Anytime you change coaches, the new faces should be given time to implement their culture while building a roster. I don’t think expecting the Jets to compete for a playoff spot in 2025 is fair.
Yes, I understand Jets fans are tired of not seeing their team play in the postseason, but the team has several holes to fill, with 28 players expected to become free agents next month.
Glenn understands what it takes to build a struggling team after helping Dan Campbell do that in Detroit. I’m sure Glenn and Jets owner Woody Johnson will say all the right things this year to get fans in the stands. But after going for it the last two years, patience should be the key for Jets fans.
The 2026 season should be when playoffs are on the minds of Jets fans. The 2025 season is about developing and building towards the future.
