If the New York Jets are serious about finding their quarterback of the future in this year’s draft, they’ve got a few different paths they could take in the first round. One of the more intriguing - and polarizing - names starting to pop up in that conversation is Trinidad Chambliss.
Now, Chambliss isn’t your typical blue-chip QB prospect. He wasn’t lighting up draft boards all season.
In fact, his name only started gaining traction after a late-season surge that included a magical College Football Playoff run. That kind of performance will always turn heads - especially in a year where the quarterback class is considered thinner than usual at the top.
But here’s the thing: the buzz around Chambliss might say more about the state of this year’s quarterback pool than it does about Chambliss himself.
Let’s break it down. On paper, Chambliss doesn’t check many of the boxes you’d expect from a first-round quarterback.
He’s listed at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds - measurements that are already on the smaller side for NFL standards, and some scouts believe those numbers are on the generous end. He’s also an older prospect, turning 24 by Week 1 of the upcoming season.
That’s not disqualifying, but it does matter when you’re projecting long-term development and upside.
Then there’s the path he took to get here. Chambliss spent five years at Division II Ferris State before transferring and finally breaking out in his sixth year.
That’s a long road, and while it speaks volumes about his perseverance and work ethic, it also raises questions about his ceiling. There’s limited Division I tape to go off of, and when it comes to projecting quarterbacks to the next level, experience against top-tier competition matters.
That said, Chambliss’ story is undeniably compelling. Making the jump from Division II to the national spotlight is no small feat.
Leading a team on a deep playoff run, showing poise under pressure, and making big-time throws when it matters - those are traits that scouts and coaches take seriously. And in a league that’s always looking for the next hidden gem under center, Chambliss has at least earned himself a seat at the table.
Still, when it comes to the Jets and the first round, the question isn’t whether Chambliss is a good story - it’s whether he’s worth using a premium pick on. And right now, there are legitimate concerns.
He’s older, he’s undersized, and he doesn’t grade out particularly well in key quarterback metrics that tend to translate to NFL success. He’s also a late bloomer, which makes it harder to project how much more growth is realistically left in his game.
If the Jets are enamored with his intangibles and believe in his upside, there’s a case to be made for targeting him later in the draft. But using a first-round pick - especially for a franchise that’s been searching for long-term stability at quarterback for years - would be a gamble. A big one.
Chambliss has done enough to earn a look. But whether that look should come on Day 1 of the draft? That’s the kind of decision that could define a front office’s legacy.