SB Nation mock draft: Jets slam the door on Aaron Rodgers era, look toward future at QB

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images In our 2025 community mock draft, the Jets lock up their quarterback of the future. The Jets are finally past the Aaron Rodgers experiment and they look to have replaced him with former first-round pick Justin Fields, whom they signed early last month. While that signing seemed like the team attempting to solidify their starting quarterback for the 2025 season, I’m not entirely sold that will keep them from taking a quarterback in this year’s draft, whether that’s in Round 1 or beyond. For John Butchko of Gang Green Nation, he isn’t sold on that idea, either. With Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders slipping out of the top five, the Jets can’t bring themselves to pass up this chance as they select the quarterback with the seventh-overall pick in SB Nation’s Community Mock Draft. 7.) New York Jets: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado Butchko: There are plenty of rumors that the Jets might trade up for a quarterback, but the team probably lacks the resources to make that a possibility. If one of the top two quarterbacks falls to No. 7, however, they become a likely pick. Justin Fields is an upside play but not a good bet as a long-term solution. Analysis: The Jets don’t have a ton of pressing needs outside of quarterback, offensive line, and maybe some edge rusher help with former high-draft pick Jermaine Johnson coming off an injury that limited him to just a handful of games in 2024. With Campbell and Membou off the board and no other edge rusher near Abdul Carter’s level still available, the Jets nab Sanders here as the second-best passer in the class. Sanders is a high-floor prospect with a reasonable ceiling if he can settle in behind an offensive line that much kinder to him than the one he had for two years at Colorado. The Jets already have a good, young skill group to surround him with and now it’s up to Aaron Glenn to make sure he has the right coaches for his development. Some may think the Jets should go elsewhere here as they already have Justin Fields on the roster, but the Jets can’t afford to continue receiving subpar quarterback play with the team they’ve built. Fields and Sanders will compete in camp and hopefully make each other better en route to one of them truly earning the starting job for Week 1. Top five remaining players: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State Malaki Starks, S Georgia Once again, a quarterback comes off the board who was not inside our top available players. Our WR1 and RB1 are still available, showcasing just how much these teams picking at the top are focused on the offensive line and the player they’ll be protecting. With teams like the Panthers and Saints coming up — both of which have seen better days in recent years— there is still plenty of talent left for them to take in hopes for a quick turnaround for their franchise.

Apr 4, 2025 - 13:38

SB Nation mock draft: Jets slam the door on Aaron Rodgers era, look toward future at QB

2025 NFL Scouting Combine — Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

In our 2025 community mock draft, the Jets lock up their quarterback of the future.

The Jets are finally past the Aaron Rodgers experiment and they look to have replaced him with former first-round pick Justin Fields, whom they signed early last month. While that signing seemed like the team attempting to solidify their starting quarterback for the 2025 season, I’m not entirely sold that will keep them from taking a quarterback in this year’s draft, whether that’s in Round 1 or beyond.

For John Butchko of Gang Green Nation, he isn’t sold on that idea, either. With Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders slipping out of the top five, the Jets can’t bring themselves to pass up this chance as they select the quarterback with the seventh-overall pick in SB Nation’s Community Mock Draft.

7.) New York Jets: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Butchko: There are plenty of rumors that the Jets might trade up for a quarterback, but the team probably lacks the resources to make that a possibility. If one of the top two quarterbacks falls to No. 7, however, they become a likely pick. Justin Fields is an upside play but not a good bet as a long-term solution.

Analysis: The Jets don’t have a ton of pressing needs outside of quarterback, offensive line, and maybe some edge rusher help with former high-draft pick Jermaine Johnson coming off an injury that limited him to just a handful of games in 2024. With Campbell and Membou off the board and no other edge rusher near Abdul Carter’s level still available, the Jets nab Sanders here as the second-best passer in the class.

Sanders is a high-floor prospect with a reasonable ceiling if he can settle in behind an offensive line that much kinder to him than the one he had for two years at Colorado. The Jets already have a good, young skill group to surround him with and now it’s up to Aaron Glenn to make sure he has the right coaches for his development.

Some may think the Jets should go elsewhere here as they already have Justin Fields on the roster, but the Jets can’t afford to continue receiving subpar quarterback play with the team they’ve built. Fields and Sanders will compete in camp and hopefully make each other better en route to one of them truly earning the starting job for Week 1.

Top five remaining players:

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Malaki Starks, S Georgia

Once again, a quarterback comes off the board who was not inside our top available players. Our WR1 and RB1 are still available, showcasing just how much these teams picking at the top are focused on the offensive line and the player they’ll be protecting. With teams like the Panthers and Saints coming up — both of which have seen better days in recent years— there is still plenty of talent left for them to take in hopes for a quick turnaround for their franchise.