Why Jermaine Johnson II campaigned for Jets to draft QB Jordan Travis

It turns out pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson II pushed for New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh to take a flier on quarterback Jordan Travis during the 2024 NFL Draft after Johnson and Travis previously were teammates with the Florida State Seminoles.

"I mean just knowing [him], I texted coach Saleh and I was just like, 'Dude, we need Jordan Travis,' like, we need him, it's a perfect situation for us, perfect situation for him," Johnson told Coral Smith of the NFL's website. 

Travis' draft outlook was muddied after he suffered a significant left leg injury in November. He ultimately earned 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Player of the Year honors, but the signal-caller is still recovering from his significant setback. 

It's understandable that the Jets traded with the Philadelphia Eagles to make Travis a fifth-round draft pick this past weekend. New York starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers turns 41 years old this December and primary backup Tyrod Taylor will be 35 when the 2024 season gets underway. 

"He gets to sit behind Tyrod and Aaron and learn from Tyrod's perspective and Aaron's perspective, and then also I mean they have a killer quarterback just in the stable learning from those guys," Johnson said about the Jets' plan to develop Travis. "So it's good for everybody and I just thought it was perfect for both sides, so why not, and sure enough when the opportunity came around they grabbed him."

Per Robert Sanchez of SNY, Travis called being drafted by Gang Green a "freaking dream come true," in part because he's admired Rodgers since he was "a little boy." While Travis shouldn't see the field for a meaningful game anytime soon, Johnson insisted the rookie is "healing up at an awesome rate" this spring. 

"I've seen the videos, he's sending me videos, I'm encouraging him and whatnot, so I have no doubt in my mind that he's going to get back to who he is and even progress from there," Johnson added about Travis. 

Rodgers teased this past winter he could play for another "two, three or four more years." That could prove to be a blessing for Travis, who now can benefit from learning about life in the NFL at a slow pace.