The New York Jets' Super Bowl hopes were dashed on the first offensive series last season when Aaron Rodgers went down with a season-ending Achilles injury, and though he's back this year to try and make another title run, those championship dreams dangle by an even weaker thread.
Rodgers is 40 years old and coming off a serious injury, and there's no way to know whether or not he'll be able to retain the MVP form of his past for a full season in 2024.
Whatever happens with Rodgers this season, the Jets would be wise to invest in a long-term succession plan at quarterback, and that could lead them to spend their first-round pick in next year's draft on that player.
One potential target could be Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, who lands with the Jets at the No. 23 overall pick in the latest 2025 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Network.
Related: 3 Big Questions Shedeur Sanders Has to Answer in 2024
In most early projections for the 2025 draft, Sanders is a top-10 pick, and typically the first or second quarterback off the board. In this mock, Sanders is the fourth passer selected, with Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Miami's Cameron Ward, and Georgia's Carson Beck all going ahead of him.
There's no denying Sanders has the talent and upside to be in the conversation as the top quarterback prospect in next year's class, and his top-end flashes have been impressive. But he still needs plenty of development, and needs to prove he can be consistent with his accuracy and decision-making and elevate his supporting cast if he's going to challenge to be a top-10 selection and potential No. 1 overall pick.
If Sanders does end up on the board in the range where the Jets could be picking, he would be an intriguing investment as the eventual successor to Rodgers, who will be an annual rental for New York at this point in his career.
If he retires after the 2024 season, the Jets could end up targeting a more polished and pro-ready quarterback who could start right away if Sanders doesn't show the development and improvement scouts need to see this year for him to check that box as an immediate starter.
Whether it's Sanders in the first round, or another quarterback with a different pick, the Jets should be prepared to invest premium resources next offseason in finding their next franchise quarterback, regardless of how much longer Rodgers plays.
Related: 2025 NFL Draft: Top QB Prospects Who Could Go No. 1
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