Between Geno Smith and Michael Vick, the New York Jets seem to have enough competition at the quarterback position.
Not so fast.
According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the Jets are kicking around the tires on former Pitt quarterback Tom Savage, who was brought in for a private pre-draft meeting last week.
Most intriguing player who quietly visited Jets: Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage. He was in #NYJ facility last week for a pre-draft visit, I’m told
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) April 29, 2014
Savage is considered to be a high second-round pick and is one of the fastest-rising quarterbacks, according to some NFL draft analysts, and is widely considered one of the top five prospects at the position.
The Jets hold the 18th and 49th picks, and unless the team wants an implosion at Radio City Music Hall, the team won’t make a move for Savage or any other quarterback for that matter in the first round. Given the team’s need at wide receiver and cornerback, it doesn’t seem as if a third quarterback is a pressing need, so the team might just be doing its due diligence in case Savage falls into the third or fourth round.
Savage isn’t the only quarterback the Jets have brought in for a visit either. Logan Thomas of Virginia Tech and Jimmy Garroppolo of Eastern Illinois also had pre-draft meetings with the team, and along with Savage, all three quarterbacks are considered mid- to late-round picks.
When it comes to the Jets, Savage is a bit of a hometown product. His college career began at Rugers in 2009. After losing his job to Chas Dodd, Savage transferred to Arizona, but after coach Mike Stoops was fired, he was off to Pittsburgh. In his lone season with the Panthers, he threw for 2,958 yards, completed 61 percent of his passes and finished with 21 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions.
Interestingly enough, the Jets’ arch-rival, the New England Patriots, are reportedly “incredibly high” on Savage. Perhaps the Jets are planning to keep the quarterback away from Foxborough.
