The New York Jets didn't draft quarterback Bryce Petty with the expectation that he'd see the field this season or, likely, the year after and, quite possibly, even the year after that.
Petty, the former Baylor Bear, entered the NFL draft process to as much concern over his understanding of professional passing concepts and ability to read and dissect defenses as there was intrigue of his physical talents and natural skillset.
The new Jets brass, led by head coach Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan, were sufficiently intrigued by Petty's potential to take him in the fourth-round and it seems like a good fit for a young signal-caller so desperately in need of a little time with the clipboard - incumbent Geno Smith can battle with veteran journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick for the next couple of seasons and, should Smith fail to develop further than his present state, Petty will be given his opportunity then.
Still, while quarterbacks are always pushed up draft boards due to the vital importance of the position at the NFL level, according to the latest report, even the fourth-round may have been too early for Petty.
"Sources with multiple NFL teams said that they had Petty graded as a late-round pick," writes Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. "Two teams said they had a seventh-round grade on Petty, while other teams had him graded as an undrafted free agent. Some teams had Petty graded earlier, but from speaking with sources from a variety of teams, the majority saw him as a late Day-3 developmental prospect."
Baylor head coach Art Briles' system is built for speed and scoring, but it provides little in the way of comparable reads or concepts with most NFL offenses.
Also working against Petty was the decision to return for a senior season which proved ultimately disappointing - he still put up big numbers, managing 270 completions for 3,855 yards, 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, but it was a step back from a fantastic junior year and left numerous concerns with Petty's accuracy, ability to push the ball downfield and work through progressions.
Much like former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, the second-overall pick by the Tennessee Titans, Petty was expected to require developmental time once he hit the NFL - the gap between the two players though seems to have been much, much wider; wider even than most suggested pre-draft, per Campbell.
Still, Petty finds himself in a good, low-to-no pressure situation in New York, where he can learn under offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and hone his technique while seeing what it takes to become a professional signal-caller from Fitzpatrick and simultaneously watch and hopefully avoid the mistakes of Smith.
Perhaps, in two seasons time, he can make good on the potential that made him a - surprising - fourth-round selection this offseason.
