5 Quarterbacks the New York Jets Must Consider in 2015 NFL Draft

The New York Jets' offseason priorities are exactly two letters long. They start with a "Q" and end with a "B." 

Of course, there are more positions than just the quarterback position the Jets must address this offseason, but without a serviceable signal-caller, the Jets may as well take a mulligan on the 2015 season as a rebuilding year.

The rebuilding process will take more than one player, but for first-year head coach Todd Bowles and first-year general manager Mike Maccagnan, it's important to get started off on the right foot.

The Jets have been searching for a quarterback for what seems like an eternity, but with a couple of top prospects available and as the holders of the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, the Jets have an opportunity to find the future of the franchise at the game's most important position.

But the Jets haven't always taken that approach to the quarterback position; just ask Geno Smith, who was highly touted coming into the 2013 NFL draft but ended up free-falling to the second round.

With that in mind, here's a look at some of the quarterbacks the Jets could be scouting headed into the 2015 NFL draft.

Marcus Mariota, Oregon

If the Jets stay put at No. 6, and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is still on the board, this pick seems like a slam dunk. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback completed a stunning 68.3 percent of his throws as a senior for a nation-leading 10 yards per pass attempt, with 42 touchdowns and only four interceptions for a 181.7 passer rating. Mariota has an arm to sling it and the wheels to tuck it and run, with 337 career rushing attempts for 2,237 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and 29 total touchdowns.

Mariota's scrambling ability and cannon arm make him a natural comparison to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but like Kaepernick, Mariota does not come without flaws. The Ducks' offense is tailored to quarterbacks, simplifying the decisions and allowing him to get the ball out to his first read with regularity.

CBS Sports' Rob Rang and Dane Brugler both projected Mariota to the Jets with the No. 6 overall pick, but Rang didn't make the pick without some trepidation:

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Concerns over Mariota's acclimation to a pro offense makes the Heisman Trophy winner a more polarizing prospect among scouts than in the media, but his upside at this point in the draft could tempt Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan. Mariota's speed and comfort in the quick screen game might be the combination that unleashes Percy Harvin.

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Mariota is not yet a perfect prospect, but given the dire situation of the Jets' quarterback position, there is just no way the Jets can go through this entire draft process without giving a long look to Mariota.

Jameis Winston, Florida State

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Can you imagine a bigger media circus than Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston beginning his NFL playing career in New York?

The 6'4", 232-pound Winston has the build of an NFL passer and more pocket ability than would typically be expected from a college quarterback. He completed 66 percent of his passes with 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in his two-year college career, which included a Heisman Trophy campaign in the 2013 season. Of course, there may be just as much talk about stats and physical tools as there is about crab legs and rape allegations when NFL evaluators are talking about Winston.

It would be one thing if his decision making was only questionable off the field, but it's also questionable on the field. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein laments that Winston "will throw into impossible windows rather than taking safe throw underneath," and that his "decision making [is] not consistent with his football intelligence."

If the Jets can get past the various character blemishes on Winston's record, and are convinced he can leave his troubled past behind in Tallahassee, they could be in line to take him off the board.

Bryce Petty, Baylor

Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty is less Robert Griffin III than Austin Davis, and so it's no surprise Petty draws comparisons to Davis for his size and leadership according to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. Petty may be viewed by some as the product of a quarterback-friendly system at Baylor, but he has the accuracy and starter-quality arm strength.

If he can learn to come off his first read, he will be a viable NFL quarterback, according to Zierlein:

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He needs a year or two of practice time and camp work to learn how to get through his progressions, but has the intelligence to do that. Petty must have a structured offense that won't ask him to make plays outside of the pocket.

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From 2013-14, Petty completed 520 of his 831 pass attempts (62.6 percent) for 8,055 yards (9.7 YPA), 61 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. That being said, most of his production came as a result of an offense that did not demand too much of the quarterback. 

A project like Petty could be a valuable pick in the third or fourth round, but the Jets would not be wise to throw him into the fire as a rookie.

Brett Hundley, UCLA

You heard the man. In the video above, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller proclaims UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley is not worth a first-round pick. He's not exactly alone in that assertion, however; NFL.com's Lance Zierlein gave Hundley a 5.54 grade (a chance to become an NFL starter) and CBS Sports' Rob Rang and Dane Brugler projected him as a second-round pick and the third-best quarterback in the draft.

That being said, if the Jets were to trade up from the No. 6 pick in the second round to a pick at the end of the first round, they would open up the possibility of kicking in a fifth-year option on his rookie contract if he should exceed their expectations.

Hundley has shown the athleticism to extend plays with his legs, and at 6'3" and 226 pounds, he also has the frame to handle the beating that comes with life outside the pocket. He has also shown a willingness to take chances on downfield throws and to take a hit when he needs to step into the pocket and throw a dart. 

He will need to improve as a "true" quarterback in his ability to beat a defense from the pocket, and according to Zierlein, Hundley was aided by a system that helped open up windows by freezing linebackers and cornerbacks with play-action fakes. But if the Jets think they can take this raw prospect and mold him into a bona fide NFL quarterback, Hundley would be worth a Day 2 selection.

Garrett Grayson, Colorado State

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

He may not have the flashy upper body of a cannon-armed Joe Flacco in his prime, but he does have the necessary mechanics in the lower body that help him remain accurate on throws at all levels of the field. He's not going to cause a threat as a runner, but his footwork is good enough to step up in the pocket and make subtle moves to avoid pass-rushers in the pocket.

Despite some strong marks on his scouting report, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein explains why Grayson is a work in progress:

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Despite average arm talent, he uses good lower-body mechanics to generate velocity and his touch and accuracy on deep throws is eye-opening. Grayson needs more tape work to help improve his decision-making, but his size, production and growth at the position have ticked the requisite draft boxes to make him an intriguing mid-round prospect.

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He'll need to improve his ability to throw with anticipation (before a receiver makes his initial break) and his velocity when throwing to the sidelines, but he has the touch and accuracy fundamentals to be molded into a starter in the right system.

Unless otherwise noted, all scouting information provided by NFL.com and CBSSports.com.