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Undrafted Rookie QB Earning a Roster Spot in New York

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Every spring, over 250 college football players have the chance to make their dreams come true by becoming an NFL draft pick. The three-day event featuring over seven rounds becomes a launching point for a potentially exciting career. Undrafted rookies, meanwhile, must hope for a training camp invitation to at least test themselves and see if they can earn a roster spot. Of course, careers have been sustainable in rare cases, such as those of Pro Football Hall of Famers Kurt Warner and John Randle. Brady Cook isn’t likely to earn a gold jacket, let alone a 53-man roster spot. However, the former standout quarterback from the University of Missouri is making an impact with the New York Jets training camp. After replacing Justin Fields in the second drive of the first preseason game, Cook could be making a bigger impact than initially thought.

Undrafted Rookie QB Earning a Roster Spot in New York

In the first year of the Aaron Glenn regime, the team is entrusting former first-round pick Justin Fields to lead their offense. The ex-Ohio State quarterback is eager to reunite with star wide receiver and college teammate Garrett Wilson. Despite some inconsistent play with the Chicago Bears, Fields has shown flashes of improvement with his pocket awareness and accuracy with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. Of course, with New York’s preference to run the ball, he won’t be expected to throw a lot. But with Fields’ acumen for scrambling, he can make himself susceptible to hits. With 62 runs for nearly 300 yards in only 10 games, Fields can take off at any time. Thus, depth in the quarterback room is important.

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Behind Fields is experienced backup, Tyrod Taylor. Entering his 15th season in the league, Tyrod Taylor has started 58 games over his career. While a decade removed from his Buffalo Bills tenure, Taylor has enough left in the tank to start in a pinch. However, a knee injury has resulted in his preseason ending prematurely. Primarily, he shouldn’t expect to miss the regular season. As a result, New York would be wise to keep a third quarterback behind Fields and Taylor. Should Fields or Taylor exacerbate their current injuries, it’d be disastrous for the offense.

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Undrafted Quarterback Brady Cook Impressing at Jets Training Camp

After not selecting a quarterback during the draft, general manager Darren Mougey opted to quickly sign Brady Cook. A three-year starter for the University of Missouri, Brady Cook impressed in his time with the Tigers. After winning the starting job in his redshirt sophomore season, Cook went 26-12 as a starter. He threw for 9,008 yards, completing 65.5% of his passes with 49 touchdowns to only 15 interceptions. In addition, Cook displayed great dual-threat abilities, running for over 1,200 yards on 362 carries and 20 touchdowns. While there was inconsistent play, Cook displayed toughness and leadership. Through his success, he helped Missouri beat Ohio State in the 2023 Cotton Bowl. One big factor was having Jets first-round pick Armand Membou protecting him at right tackle.

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While an undrafted free agent, it hasn’t stopped Cook from performing above and beyond his duties. After Tyrod Taylor’s injury, Cook replaced Justin Fields for the remainder of the first half. Despite practicing primarily with the third-string unit, Cook performed admirably. Once he replaced Fields, Cook finished the first half going 6-8 for 62 yards and only one sack for a loss of five yards. Considering he’s facing NFL starters and second stringers, he looked composed and calm in the pocket. He lost out on a potential touchdown pass to Isaiah Davis just before the end of the quarter, but Davis stepped out of bounds at the four. Fortunately, New York exited the drive with a 22-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis.

Can Brady Cook be a Developmental Option?

If Brady Cook makes the 53-man roster, it’d be a big moment for him. In addition, it could be financially practical for New York as well. At 36 years old and on the last year of his contract, Tyrod Taylor isn’t a long-term option at backup. Ideally, Justin Fields will show enough this year that he can remain the starter in 2026. However, if Fields struggles, it’d be wise to retain a cheap backup quarterback who is familiar with the offense. While Cook doesn’t have the strongest arm, he could do just enough to be a serviceable backup. Plus, if the San Francisco 49ers can make it to a Super Bowl with a seventh-round pick quarterback like Brock Purdy, it couldn’t hurt seeing what Brady Cook can offer to the Jets.

Main Photo: [Kayla Wolf] – USA Today Sports

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