Did the New York Jets land a hidden quarterback gem in undrafted free agency?
According to ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller, the answer is yes.
Speaking with Jets beat reporter Rich Cimini on the “Flight Deck Podcast,” Miller praised former Missouri quarterback Brady Cook, who signed with the Jets, for his leadership, character, athleticism, and production.
“He [Cook] will probably be one of the most popular players on the team within the first couple of months being there,” said Miller. “There were certainly times over the past few years when Missouri tried to replace Cook, but they just couldn’t, because he plays too well, he practices too well, and he is such a good leader.
“We saw in the pre-draft process,” Miller continued. “In the East-West Shrine Game, he looked really, really good there, at the combine, he is an athlete, and he had a great combine workout. I was at his pro day workout; it was okay. I think with Brady, you are getting an accurate quarterback who can move around and make plays.”
Cook quietly built an impressive college resume over five seasons at Missouri, appearing in 47 games. He finished his Mizzou career with 9,251 passing yards, 50 touchdown passes, and a completion rate just under 66%, while rushing for 1,262 yards and 21 scores.
His breakout season came in 2023, when he threw for 3,317 yards and 21 touchdowns with only six interceptions, completing 66.1% of his passes and showing clear growth as a decision-maker in Missouri’s offense.
Cook followed that up with a solid 2024 campaign, completing 62.6 percent of his passes for 2,535 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just two interceptions across 12 games. He also added five rushing touchdowns and over 200 yards on the ground.
Cook also did not turn the ball over often for the Tigers in 2024, throwing only two interceptions compared to 11 touchdowns, which earned a stellar 1.0% turnover-worthy play rate.
Physically, Cook measured in at 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, slightly undersized by traditional quarterback standards, yet he showcased eye-catching athleticism.
His 4.62-second 40-yard dash ranked in the 88th percentile among quarterbacks, and he earned a 9.71 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), placing him 30th out of nearly 1,000 quarterbacks since 1987.
Time will tell, but underdog Brady Cook has all the traits to become a fan favorite in New York among Jets fans.
