The New York Jets are terrifyingly predictable when it comes to the NFL Draft. The Jets historically love measurables, traits, and players who look great getting off the team bus. But Scott Dochterman of The Athletic recently floated a radical idea for Gang Green’s quarterback room by suggesting they draft Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia to back up Geno Smith.
Diego Pavia Can Transform the New York Jets’ Quarterback Room
Pavia is the absolute antithesis of a modern quarterback prototype. He stands 5-foot-10 and possesses the shortest arms of any signal-caller who weighed in at this year’s scouting combine. He plays with a reckless abandon that traditional NFL scouts might label as “rambunctious and immature,” as Dochterman noted in his draft preview.
“For the Jets? Sure, maybe Pavia is rambunctious and immature and stands 5 feet 10 inches tall with the shortest arms of any quarterback at this year’s combine. For every reason he doesn’t make sense, though, you can’t deny how he impacts his teammates and the players around him.”
None of those physical limitations mattered against elite competition in the SEC. Pavia completely revitalized Vanderbilt football during his senior campaign. He guided the traditionally downtrodden Commodores to a historic 10-win season against the toughest defensive lines in the country.
The statistical output was staggering for a player that most major programs ignored out of high school. He racked up 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns through the air while adding 862 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
That dual-threat production earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and made him the Heisman Trophy runner-up. Pavia finished at the top of the rankings, according to the PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Metrics.
Critics will relentlessly point to his lack of prototypical size or highlight his unorthodox footwork in the pocket. But the guy simply knows how to win football games and elevate the talent around him. You cannot deny how he positively impacts his teammates on every single snap.
The Jets have spent decades chasing the perfect quarterback prospect, only to fail miserably. They drafted Sam Darnold third overall in 2018 and took Zach Wilson second overall in 2021 based heavily on raw arm talent. Both players ultimately wilted under the crushing pressure of the New York media market.
Maybe it is time for a vastly different approach in the draft room. The front office needs to stop looking for a superhero and just find a reliable football player. Dochterman put it perfectly when he wrote that you “can’t deny how he impacts his teammates” and the players around him.
Why Backing Up Geno Smith Gives Pavia the Perfect NFL Runway
Smith returning to the Jets has been one of the best storylines of this offseason. He started his career in New York back in 2013 as a second-round pick who faced immense, unfair scrutiny from Day 1. Now he returns as a savvy veteran who knows exactly how to navigate the choppy waters of the AFC East.
A veteran starter needs a very specific type of backup behind him on the depth chart. You want someone who can step in and provide an instant spark without threatening the established hierarchy of the locker room. Pavia fits that description perfectly for a team with genuine playoff aspirations.
He can sit and learn behind Smith while providing a completely different look for the scout team offense during practice. If Smith takes a hard hit and misses a few series, Pavia becomes the ultimate change-of-pace option. Opposing defensive coordinators would have to throw out their entire game plan on the fly.
You cannot properly prepare for a backup quarterback who treats the pocket like a mere suggestion. His scrambling ability alone makes him a total nightmare for exhausted pass rushers in the fourth quarter. Pavia fights for extra yards, barks at middle linebackers, and completely embraces the chaos of a broken play.
New York fans appreciate maximum effort above all else. They want players who care as much as the people sitting in the freezing upper deck in December. Pavia plays every single snap like his career depends on it, bringing an infectious energy that translates perfectly to the professional level.
This is fundamentally a low-risk gamble for the front office. Nobody expects the Jets to spend a first-round or even a third-round pick on the Vanderbilt standout. If they grab him on Day 3 of the draft, the external expectations remain completely grounded.
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Dochterman accurately described drafting the SEC star as a “low-risk, high-reward possibility” for the franchise. He wrote:
“So, why should the Jets take a chance on Pavia? Well, it’s the Jets. Seemingly every quarterback the Jets draft early flops (as Zach Wilson did) or flounders until they wipe away the stench (as Sam Darnold did). Pavia is a low-risk, high-reward possibility — nobody should be naive about his antics or competitive nature.”
He’s far from a prototype, but maybe the Jets just need a baller. If he performs well, he instantly becomes a fan favorite. If he doesn’t, cut him and move on.
There is no guaranteed formula for drafting and developing quarterbacks. The graveyard of NFL busts is absolutely filled with tall, strong-armed men who lacked the competitive fire to survive a training camp.
