The 2024-25 NFL season has been a disaster for Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. In what was supposed to be a year of redemption after suffering a gruesome Achilles injury in Week 1 of last year’s campaign, Rodgers and the Jets find themselves tied for last place in the AFC East with a dismal 3-8 record.
Although the firing of general manager Joe Douglas does represent a sort of reset for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010, there are many questions that will need to be asked and answered in the coming months.
Can Arch Manning Solve the Jets’ Problems?
Co-founder of Round Table Sports, Dan Mitchell believes the correct path forward is “Hiring Bill Belichick. Releasing Aaron Rodgers, starting Tyrod Taylor in 2025 (tank again). Then, grab Arch Manning in the 2026 NFL Draft.”
While it’s difficult to predict the future of a quarterback who has taken minimal snaps at the college level, it is clear that Arch Manning has all the attributes to succeed at the highest level.
Manning’s hype has already reached astronomical proportions by his arrival in Texas alone, and he’s expanded on that hype in 2024. He dominated in the Longhorns’ spring game, and in limited action thus far, he’s thrived in Steve Sarkisian’s offense.
Manning will be eligible for the NFL Draft at the start of the 2025 college football season. At that point, he’ll have accrued two full years of experience at the CFB level.
By extension, the 2026 NFL Draft is the first draft event in which Manning will be eligible to participate. He is not eligible for the 2025 event and must return to college football after the 2024 campaign.
ARCH MANNING 67-YARD RUSHING TOUCHDOWN 😱
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) September 15, 2024
At 6’4″, 225 pounds, Manning fits the prototypical QB mold that his uncles did, and he has a level of athleticism and mobility that they lacked. He can produce on the ground, work off-script, and throw off-platform with his arm elasticity.
Manning’s arm strength might not be elite, but he still has more than enough to drive the ball down the field and layer pace and touch on throws. That talent will be the underpinning factor of any Round 1 ascent, but Manning’s heavy NFL background may also put evaluators at ease.
As a result, a commitment by the Jets to pursue Manning would not be the quick fix many fans in New York would hope for. In addition, while individuals like Rodgers and Davante Adams inflate the team’s average age, the Jets do have young stars, such as Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Quinnen Williams, all of whom are in or entering the prime of their respective careers and ready to win now.
What Is a Realistic Timeline for Arch Manning?
Although it’s possible for rookie quarterbacks to prosper right away upon entering the NFL, the majority of cases feature a debut season filled with learning curves and adjustments.
As a result, a realistic timeline for playoff success may not be until Manning’s sophomore campaign, one almost three years into the future.
In the NFL, three years is a lifetime. While some individuals, like Mitchell, may believe Manning is the solution in New York, there is no way to predict what the rest of the Jets’ roster will look like down the line.
Whether it be retirements, free agency, or completed trades, it is certain that should Manning get drafted by the Jets in 2026, he won’t be stepping into the team that several pundits, including NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, predicted would finish atop the AFC this season.