Buffalo Bills fans can always count on the New York Jets to provide some form of entertainment, and more often than not, it’s in the most entertaining way possible. While the Jets’ struggles have been an ongoing narrative for years, it’s especially amusing for Bills supporters. The Jets have not made a playoff appearance since the 2010 season, and they haven’t claimed the AFC East division title since 2002. Over the years, they’ve been on the hunt for a franchise quarterback, yet they continue to fall short. With their persistent quarterback woes, the Jets could be preparing to make a bold move in this year’s NFL Draft in hopes of finding a quarterback capable of making them relevant again.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Jets have reportedly been in discussions with the Tennessee Titans, aiming to trade up for the coveted number one pick in the upcoming draft. If this trade comes to fruition, it would undoubtedly provide some entertainment for Bills fans, as this year’s quarterback class is widely regarded as lacking. Yet, in typical Jets fashion, they might just be the team to give up a hefty price to move up the draft board and select one of these quarterbacks, who are generally viewed as mid-to-late first-round prospects in any other year.
The potential move would bring another young, untested quarterback to the AFC East, one that could be trying to dethrone the Bills. Just last year, the New England Patriots used their third overall pick to select quarterback Drake Maye. Early returns have been favorable, as Maye has shown promise in his rookie season. Meanwhile, the Jets have taken swings at quarterbacks before, but those attempts have not gone as planned. They drafted Sam Darnold in 2018 and Zach Wilson in 2021, both of whom failed to live up to expectations. After the failed Aaron Rodgers experiment in 2023, the Jets might be ready to try their luck once more and draft a first-round quarterback to lead their team into the future.
What adds to the humor in this situation is that the quarterbacks in this year’s draft class likely wouldn’t be considered first-round talent in other years. They would more commonly be picked in the middle or later rounds of the draft, yet the Jets are reportedly willing to part with a significant amount of draft capital in hopes of acquiring one of them. One quarterback to watch is Cam Ward, who is expected to be the first quarterback off the board. However, his lack of a lengthy college career—he played only one season at Miami—raises a lot of questions, making him a risky pick for any team. In fact, drafting Ward could very well feel like a high-stakes gamble.
For Buffalo Bills fans, watching the Jets’ perpetual struggles at quarterback is a source of humor and relief. If the Jets end up making a bold move to trade up for the number one pick, it will provide more fodder for Bills supporters, who will no doubt be rooting for whichever quarterback the Jets select to fail—just like all of their recent signal callers have. The idea of a new, unproven quarterback coming into the AFC East to challenge the Bills feels almost like déjà vu at this point. And, if history is any indication, it seems more likely than not that this quarterback will fall short, continuing the Jets’ long history of quarterback failures.
In the end, while the Jets might be making a bold attempt to solve their long-standing quarterback problem, the real entertainment for Bills fans comes from watching them stumble in their quest. Should the Jets move up to the top spot and take one of these quarterbacks, the hope is that history will repeat itself, and that they will once again find themselves without the missing piece they need to be competitive in the AFC East. For now, at least, it’s another opportunity for Buffalo fans to sit back, laugh, and enjoy watching the Jets try—and likely fail—once again.
