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2015 NFL Draft: New York Jets Select Quarterback Bryce Betty With 4th Round Pick

By Kenneth Teape

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In the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Jets traded up one spot with the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the pick, the Jets selected Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty. Was this the right pick for the up-and-coming Jets, who have had a very strong draft?

With their fourth round pick, the fourth of the fourth round and 104th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected quarterback Bryce Petty out of Baylor. Petty had tremendous production at Baylor, leading their fast-paced spread offense with great ease. That will make for a big learning curve at the beginning of his NFL career, but the Jets can afford to bring him along slowly with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith already on the roster. He had 62 touchdowns in his career at Baylor, putting up eye-popping stats with the offense that they ran. Here is some information about the Jets’ fourth round pick from the 2015 NFL Draft:

Year: 23 years old, Senior

Height: 6-feet-2 7/8 inches

Weight: 230 pounds

Accolades: Big 12 Chamption (2012,2013) Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (2013), Cotton Bowl Class Offensive MVP (2015)

Petty obviously has tremendous statistics in part because of the spread system that he uses, but he still has to put the skills he has to use to make it work. He has above-average athleticism for a quarterback, looking natural back there. He is accurate with a smooth throwing motion. His biggest problem will be transitioning from the spread offense to being under center.

It will take a lot of work, but it is something that he is prepared for. He is hard working and will put in what needs to be done so that he can become as strong a performer as he was in college. He will be the first one in the building and the last one to leave as he wants to succeed. He is also a strong leader, which is almost a prerequisite if you want to succeed as a play caller in the NFL.

He also is durable, as he started 25 of 26 games since becoming the full-time starter at Baylor, which is as important as anything once you reach the NFL. It will also keep him on the field and active so that he can continue learning and growing as a player. He will push Smith right from the start, which will help the Jets overall as they can maybe get the most out of him that the old regime saw when they used a second round pick on him in 2013. Or, they now have a quarterback the new regime of Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles can call their own that they think will help lead them in the future. Whatever the plan may be, this was a good pick for the Jets who have filled holes earlier in the draft and can afford to draft a developmental player now.

Next: Was drafting Williams a safe pick?

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