The thing about being a Jets fan? You develop a sixth sense for disappointment. You don’t just brace for impact—you expect it. Every promising season turns into a Greek tragedy, and every big-name acquisition feels like the setup for another punchline. And yet, here we are again. Hope creeping back in, just enough to make the heartbreak sting that much more.

This time, the whispers around the team aren’t about another veteran past his prime (sorry, Aaron Rodgers) or a flashy free-agent signing. No, this one feels different. The Jets might be on the verge of making NFL history—not with a blockbuster trade or a headline signing, but with an unprecedented quarterback pick at No. 31 in the draft. That’s right. A first-round QB selection at a spot no team has ever dared to use for a franchise signal-caller. And at the center of this storm? Jaxson Dart.

Jaxson Dart: A historic draft pick?

According to draft analyst Chad Reuter, the Jets could trade up to secure the 31st overall pick and land Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. To do this, Reuter expects them to trade up from Pick No. 42 overall (Pick 12 in Round 2), sending that selection and a fourth, fifth, and sixth-round pick to the Chiefs.

Dart’s 2024 season at Ole Miss showed why he’s climbing draft boards. He completed 276 of 398 passes, hitting a 69.3% clip. He threw for 4,279 yards, averaging 10.8 yards per attempt, with 29 touchdowns against just six interceptions. His passer rating? A rock-solid 180.7. His QBR? An even more impressive 86.3 that puts him in elite company (refer below). And he wasn’t just slinging it through the air. On the ground, he racked up 495 rushing yards on 124 carries, averaging 4.0 yards per attempt, and found the end zone three times.

After their humiliation in Super Bowl LIX, one wonders if Kansas City would be willing to forego a first-round pick. Perhaps they could figure out a different trade or use their plentiful salary cap elsewhere. In any case, if they do and the Jets pull the trigger, it’ll be the first time in NFL history that a QB has been selected at that exact spot in the first round. The closest precedent? Cody Kessler, who was taken 31st—but in the third round—back in 2016.

If the Jets go through with this, it would be a shift that fans would likely be on board with. A fresh start. A sign that they’re done gambling on aging quarterbacks for instant success and are ready to invest the time and effort to develop their own guy. That would be bad news for their ‘current guy’, an NFL legend.

The end of the Aaron Rodgers experiment?

That, of course, brings us to the elephant in the room: Aaron Rodgers. The four-time MVP arrived in New York as the supposed missing piece. The savior. The guy who would finally lift the Jets out of irrelevance. Instead, he lasted four snaps before a torn Achilles wiped out his entire 2023 season. He returned in 2024, but the offense never found its rhythm. The offensive line was a mess. The receiving corps lacked firepower. And Rodgers himself? Slower, less mobile, showing the kind of wear and tear that even the greats can’t outrun.

Now, team owner Woody Johnson is reportedly weighing whether to move on. Rumors even suggest he has already told Rodgers to pack his bags and get on a jet plane… out of New York. Nothing’s official yet, but the writing is on the wall. Rodgers turns 41 this year, and the Jets need long-term stability under center.

One thing feels certain: Rodgers’ New York run is on borrowed time. This is the moment. The fork in the road. The Jets have a chance to rip off the bandage and start fresh. Either way, the choice they make in the coming months won’t just define their 2025 season—it’ll set the course for the franchise’s future.

So then, if they draft Dart, the transition plan gets tricky. Do they hand the rookie the keys right away? Somehow miraculously keep Rodgers as a bridge QB for another year? Sign a veteran to hold down the fort while Dart develops? For better or worse, history is coming. The only question is whether the Jets are finally on the right side of it.