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Jets rookie QB believes he could be Aaron Rodgers’ successor

Jordan Travis. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jets rookie QB believes he was drafted to be Aaron Rodgers’ successor

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 5/6/24

If there’s one thing New York Jets rookie quarterback Jordan Travis isn’t short on, it’s confidence.

Many scouts and general managers viewed the 24-year-old passer as too big of an injury risk after he suffered a season-ending broken leg against North Alabama in November, but the Jets gambled on his upside and talent in the fifth round of the 2024 draft.

While some may believe the Jets took Travis purely as a late-round developmental project, Travis disclosed to reporters during Jets’ rookie camp over the weekend that he has thought about whether he was drafted to be Aaron Rodgers’ eventual successor.

“I do think about that a lot,” Travis told reporters, “but right now I'm just focused where my feet are, just getting healthy and getting everybody around me better, being a great teammate.”

#Jets GM Joe Douglas was ‘concerned’ that another QB run was coming in the #NFLDraft & that they might miss out on their intended target FSU’s Jordan Travis.

‘The guy that we just didn’t want to miss out on is Jordan’ + he called him a ‘dynamic weapon’ & ‘an unbelievable… pic.twitter.com/TI3x4x7E8m
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) May 4, 2024

As he recovers from his broken leg, there’s little pressure on Travis in 2024.

A presumably fully healthy Rodgers will start, and journeyman Tyrod Taylor will back him up, with Travis as the No. 3 guy after the Jets traded former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson to the Denver Broncos earlier in the offseason.

Despite his physical limitations during his rehabilitation process, Jets head coach Robert Saleh seems pretty high on Travis’s NFL ceiling.

“He's got a lot of work to do, he hasn't even scratched the surface,” Saleh said, via the Jets official web site. “He's winning games doing things that were just pure athleticism, and if we can tie the football part to it, I think we've got ourselves a damn good player.”

QB Jordan Travis on his injury timeline: pic.twitter.com/cjMhD73LNr
— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 4, 2024

Though his senior season was cut short, Travis still had a heck of a year. He threw for 2,756 yards, 20 touchdowns and just two interceptions while leading the Seminoles to an 11-0 record and contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Though Florida State won its next two games after Travis’ injury against Florida and No. 14 Louisville, the ‘Noles were crushed by Georgia, 63-3, in the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Travis ended his college career with 8,715 yards, 66 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He went 21-3 as Florida State’s starting QB over his final two seasons.

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