When Brady Cook takes his first snap Sunday in Jacksonville, he’ll be making history for the New York Jets.
The 24-year-old is set to become the first undrafted free agent rookie to make a start for the organization. It’s a feat that, understandably, comes with plenty of caveats.
New York never anticipated Cook getting playing time in his first year. Signed out of Missouri, the rookie sat on the Jets’ practice squad for most of the 2025 season. Things changed when the team lost both Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields to injuries in Week 14, though.
It’s not as if Gang Green has a choice; Cook must start. Still, it’s crucial for the Jets to do one thing with the youngster that will set them up for future success beyond just what happens the rest of the current season.
Jets need to learn from QB mistakes
It is expected that the Jets will be drafting a rookie quarterback in April. Whether it be someone like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore, New York will be in the market for a new signal-caller.
Before they make that decision, though, head coach Aaron Glenn and his staff must demonstrate that they can effectively surround a rookie with a scheme that enables players to succeed.
Sunday’s contest against the Jaguars will be a good litmus test to see if the Jets can do that with a UDFA leading the way, especially since Cook has been with the team all season.
“I really enjoy just watching guys on this team get an opportunity in general,” Glenn said before practice on Friday. “I don’t care draft pick, not a draft pick, where you come from, because I know how hard it is in this business and sometimes you only have one shot.”
Glenn is correct in that this could be Cook’s only chance to be a starting quarterback. That makes it even more important for the team to build a game plan around his skill set. It would show that the organization fully understands how important good quarterback play is and knows how to get the most production out of them.
That is what separates some of the great teams in the NFL from those in quarterback purgatory. New York can prove they are ready to handle a top rookie with a good plan that protects Cook on Sunday.
What to expect from Brady Cook
Even with a game plan that protects their quarterback, expectations should be low for the offense with Cook leading the way.
In his first game action last week against the Dolphins, the UDFA completed less than half of his passes (14 of 30) for 163 yards and no touchdowns, while fumbling twice and throwing two picks in the red zone. He got better as the game went on, but still appeared overwhelmed against their AFC East rival.
That’s understandable, though. He was unexpectedly thrown into his first NFL action as an undrafted rookie.
For his first start, the Jets are hoping the added reps will help Cook succeed on Sunday.
“It was just a tough situation of him not getting a chance to get all the reps,” Glenn said. “I have all the confidence in the world and that’s something I’ve stated from
the very beginning. He’ll be a good player in this league, and he’ll have his opportunity again this week.”
New York needs to surround Cook with the right plan to allow him to succeed on Sunday. It’ll go a long way to proving they can handle the pressure of a future top rookie in the coming months.
