There’s a growing buzz around the league that the New York Jets might pass on taking a quarterback in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft - and that has stirred up plenty of debate. With the team stacking up wins and climbing out of the top draft slots, the idea of bypassing a QB altogether is starting to feel more like a real possibility than a hypothetical.
But let’s be clear: if the Jets identify a quarterback they believe can be their long-term answer, there’s no excuse not to go get him. They’ve got the draft capital.
They’ve got the flexibility. And after years of instability under center, they’ve got the motivation.
This is a franchise that’s been searching for a franchise quarterback longer than most fans can remember. If the front office sees the guy, they need to make their move - whether that means sitting tight or trading up.
That said, not everyone sees it that way. In a recent mock draft, the Jets were projected to go in a completely different direction - not just skipping quarterback, but going with a running back instead.
The pick? Jeremiyah Love.
According to the scenario, Jets GM Darren Mougey opts to hold onto his draft assets instead of moving up for a quarterback, choosing instead to take the best player available. And in this case, that’s Love - a back with elite traits and eye-popping production.
At 6'0", 214 pounds, Love brings a rare combination of size, patience, balance, and breakaway speed. He’s not just a between-the-tackles grinder - he’s a home-run hitter, with touchdown runs of 98 and 94 yards over the past two seasons to prove it.
Statistically, Love’s résumé speaks for itself. He ranks fourth in the nation in rushing yards with 1,372 and sits second in total touchdowns with 21.
He’s already locked in as a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award, and the Doak Walker Award. And with the Heisman Trophy ceremony approaching, he’s expected to be in that conversation as well.
From a talent standpoint, there’s no question Love is a first-round player. For the right team, he might even be worth a top-10 pick.
He’s that dynamic. And with Breece Hall set to hit free agency in the near future - and no guarantee the Jets re-sign him - there’s a logic to the move if the front office is thinking long-term at the position.
But here’s the rub: using a top-10 pick on a running back when you don’t have your quarterback situation figured out is a tough sell. That’s a luxury pick.
That’s the kind of move you make when your offense is already humming and you’re looking to add another weapon to an already potent attack. The Jets aren’t there yet.
Love could absolutely be a star in the NFL. But for a team still trying to solve the most important position in football, passing on a quarterback - especially in a draft where they have the ammo to go get one - would raise more questions than it answers.
The Jets have needs across the board: quarterback, cornerback, defensive line. But quarterback still looms largest.
If they fall in love with a signal-caller in this class, they need to be aggressive. Because as good as Jeremiyah Love might be, he won’t be the one throwing the ball, leading the huddle, or changing the course of this franchise.
That job still belongs to the quarterback - whoever that ends up being.