The New York Jets went just 5-12 in 2024, marking their ninth straight losing season, but there is hope that newly hired head coach Aaron Glenn will be able to come in and quickly turn things around. Of course, another big splash was signing free agent quarterback Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract, who last season threw for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception for the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, two years isn’t a very long-term commitment and there’s a belief that the Jets are still looking at other quarterback options, with Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic naming it a position of need in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. That’s why it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that in a mock draft from ESPN, Jordan Reid predicts New York will select Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord with the No. 110 pick.
McCord is coming off his best season at the collegiate level, completing 391-of-592 passes for 4,779 yards (most in ACC history), 34 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 148.8 passing efficiency rating. Being drafted by the Jets could put him in a position to battle it out with 36-year-old Tyrod Taylor, who, in 94 career appearances, has thrown for 12,254 yards, 68 touchdowns, 29 interceptions and an 88.9 passer rating to be Fields’ backup.
If the Jets see a future with McCord, he would also still have two more years on his rookie contract by the time Fields is slated to become a free agent, meaning he could step into the team’s starting role after extensive time learning on the bench.