Bryce Petty

Bryce Petty is entering Year 2 with the Jets. (AP Photo | Seth Wenig)

NORTH CALDWELL -- Bryce Petty, the Jets' second-year quarterback, knows he has some critical practices coming up this spring and summer, as he tries to show the organization he is worth retaining.

And as he approaches those practices, Petty believes he is much more advanced than he was last year, when the Jets drafted him in the fourth round. One way Petty notices his significant progress -- by playing the Madden video game.

Last year, he was a developmental quarterback facing a steep learning curve. Now, he understands the nuances of playing in the NFL much better (like recognizing defensive tendencies), after he watched and learned last season, while not playing at all.

"For me, where I was when they drafted me last year to where I am now, it's night-and-day difference," Petty told NJ Advance Media on Monday at Jets linebacker David Harris' charity golf event, which benefits the Give the Kids Hope Foundation. "For me, it's a process. Just watching film, I'm seeing things.

"I played Madden the other day, and it's not just picking run plays anymore. It's like, 'Oh, they've got an under front [on defense].' You start picking up things differently. That's exciting for me."

Yet the Jets just drafted Christian Hackenberg in Round 2. They could keep four quarterbacks on their active roster for 2016. General manager Mike Maccagnan hasn't ruled that out.

But presuming the Jets re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick, where would that leave Petty? Might he be the odd man out, since Geno Smith would give the Jets a game-tested backup behind Fitzpatrick?

"For me, I've got to go out and prove that they made the right choice the year before [by drafting me]," Petty said.

How much closer is he to being ready to play, as a potential understudy to Fitzpatrick, if the Jets decide to retain Petty over Smith?

"If there's anybody I can emulate playing, mentally wise, it's Fitz," Petty said. "It was so awesome to be with him last year, just to see, cognitively, how he thinks about every play and how he goes in to prepare. The capacity for his mental side of the game to be that extreme, that's what I try to emulate."

(Smith declined to speak with reporters Monday at Harris' charity event.)

Petty is trying to not worry about what Hackenberg's selection means for him, though if Petty demonstrates enough progress this spring and summer, the Jets could cut Smith and have just Petty and Hackenberg behind Fitzpatrick.

"For me, it's about worrying about what I've got to do, to make sure that I'm in the best chance to hopefully get on the field this year," Petty said. "That's what I want to do. That's what sucked last year [with not playing]. I know it's part of it, your redshirt year. Especially right now, it's my job to go prove. That rests solely on my shoulders. I'm ready to see the development from Year 1 to Year 2, not only in the film room, but actually hit the field and be able to see things."

Like other Jets players, Petty would like to have Fitzpatrick around the Jets' facility during offseason workouts. But Petty isn't begrudging Fitzpatrick for wanting more money than the Jets have been willing to give him. Petty, like his teammates, has spent some time recently video chatting with Fitzpatrick.

"We want to see him in the locker room, but we also understand it's a business," Petty said. "He's got to do the things to put food on the table for his family."

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.