Jets grab a replacement for Aaron Rodgers in a new 2025 mock draft

Zach Wilson. Sam Darnold. Christian Hackenberg ( who had a lot to say about his time in New York ). Geno Smith. Mark Sanchez. All guys who were drafted in the top two rounds by the New York Jets in recent history to be the face of the franchise. All failures to a different degree.

With Aaron Rodgers’ advanced age and pending retirement on the horizon, it will soon be time for the New York Jets to take another bite of the proverbial Big Apple to find the next quarterback to lead the Jets.

According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, they will find their man in the 2025 NFL Draft.

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Miller recently released his way too early 2025 NFL mock draft. He has the Jets picking 20 ^th overall by way of the “draft order for this exercise comes from ESPN's Football Power Index , which uses thousands of simulations to predict the 2024 NFL season. In turn, that gives us a 1-32 order, starting with the Patriots at No. 1.”

First off, how great does it feel for Jets fans to see the Patriots picking first overall? I mean, they deserve it, right? And for what it’s worth, picking 20 ^th overall would mean the Jets would make a trip to the playoffs in 2024, albeit a short one.

And to the New York Jets at pick number 20 in the first round, Miller has the Jets selecting Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard.

Aaron Rodgers is turning 41 years old this season and will be coming off a torn Achilles. Sure, he might play several more seasons, but the Jets still have to think long term about the roster. That means being prepared for his eventual exit. Leonard, a transfer from Duke, has been talked about by scouts for two seasons as a potential first-rounder. He played in seven games last season, missing time with ankle and toe injuries, and he struggled with just three touchdown passes and three interceptions. But the accuracy, mobility and decision-making he showed in 2022 have scouts believing he's ready to break out in a new scheme. – Matt Miller, ESPN NFL Analyst

The Riley Leonard is not a terrible selection for the Jets, but the problem is the catch-22 of the pick. If Leonard plays well in the new system at Notre Dame like Miller suggests, then he will be taken much higher than pick number 20. If he doesn’t play that well, the Jets will be reaching for a quarterback when there are other glaring needs for the team in 2025 and beyond.

Leonard is the fifth quarterback off the board in Miller’s mock so it isn’t as if he just falls into the Jets’ lap. The Jets would have watched four others go prior to taking who Miller is saying the fifth best quarterback in a draft class that isn’t deep at the position.

A lot can happen between now and the 2025 NFL draft. And I don’t hate the idea of the Jets taking an heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers, but I’m not thrilled with the idea of taking the fifth best quarterback in a weak qb draft.

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