The Jets are one of the most well-rounded rosters in the NFL, but quarterback play has consistently held the team back from truly contending for a Super Bowl. After trading a couple of NFL Draft selections to the Packers for Aaron Rodgers, the front office hopes he is the final piece to the puzzle.
Head coach Robert Saleh will have his defense ready to play, including defending Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner. The roster features several young players still scratching the surface of what they could be in the league. The development of these rising talents is key to getting over the hump in New York.
Jets: 3 Reasons New York Can Win A Super Bowl With Aaron Rodgers
The Jets narrowly missed a playoff berth in 2022, even amid tumultuous play behind center. Following an impressive offseason, the team has never been more ready to contend for a Super Bowl. Here are three reasons Gang Green will return to postseason play this coming season.
No. 1: Aaron Rodgers Boasts Super Bowl Pedigree
The New York Jets made arguably the most earth-shattering move of the NFL offseason when the franchise acquired future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. The polarizing superstar quarterback brings a winning pedigree and veteran leadership to a locker room full of young, ascending talent.
After swinging and missing on the Zach Wilson experiment, general manager Joe Douglas opted for an established hand behind center rather than trading up at the 2023 NFL Draft to secure a riskier option. Wilson may develop his traits as the QB2 behind Rodgers, but the BYU product is not ready to lead a legitimate contender.
Enter Rodgers. The former Green Bay legend followed the footsteps of his predecessor, Brett Favre, by donning a Jets uniform after turning in a legendary career with the Packers. The New York faithful are hoping for a better outcome, as Favre led the league in interceptions in his lone season with the Jets.
The four-time NFL MVP is immediately the most talented quarterback in franchise history. He is a smart passer with a risk-averse nature. Rodgers takes care of the football and creates plays off-schedule, a rare combination. The 18-year veteran will unlock the next level of development for reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, Garrett Wilson. Watch out for youngsters Jeremy Ruckert and Zack Kuntz at tight end, as well.
With no shortage of weapons, Rodgers is ready to chase a Super Bowl in the Big Apple. In 2022, the Jets would have easily qualified for the postseason with even average play at quarterback. In 2023, they should receive well above-average results from the newly-acquired signal-caller. As far as the championship ambitions go, they begin and end with No. 8.
No. 2: Defense Takes Step Into Elite Territory
As I mentioned earlier, Sauce Gardner will be roaming the defensive backfield for the next decade at MetLife Stadium. The Cincinnati Bearcat product is already a top defender in the NFL, but he isn’t the only thing making this defense a potentially elite unit.
Entering his fifth season with the Jets, defensive lineman Quinnen Williams is the focal point of the front line. He is a force in the run game and consistently puts pressure on the pocket from the interior. With a mostly unproven collection of pass rushers on the roster, Saleh will look to Williams to eat up attention, freeing up his teammates with one-on-one looks outside.
Veteran C.J. Mosley returns for a fourth season in New York, fresh off a second-team All-Pro selection in 2022. Jordan Whitehead, D.J. Reed, and Al Woods are a few more veterans tasked with getting this unit over the top. Rodgers can carry one side of the football, but the defense must take a leap into elite territory to be in the conversation in February. And I believe it will.
No. 3: Offensive Line Remains Healthy
The offensive line, on paper, is a stacked group with high draft-pick capital invested at nearly every spot. Mekhi Becton is uber-talented. However, he has a history of injury issues, including a kneecap fracture that cost him the entire 2022 season. Now, Becton is slimmed down and looks ready to handle an NFL workload, but given his track record, it is a very serious concern.
Elsewhere on the line, fellow first-round pick Alijah Vera-Tucker saw his 2022 campaign cut short after a promising 2021 rookie season. The USC alum appeared in multiple spots across the line, including left tackle, right tackle, and guard. He is a player with All-Pro potential in Year 3, assuming the injury bug doesn’t take another bite out of him.
Laken Tomlinson didn’t perform particularly well in his first season with the Jets, but more continuity with his teammates will go a long way in 2023. Duane Brown will be 38 years old on Week 1, so durability could be an issue, but when healthy, the grizzled vet is still an above-average contributor on the blindside.
Perhaps the most exciting addition (besides Rodgers) came when the Jets selected Joe Tippmann midway through the second round at the 2023 NFL Draft. The Wisconsin leader will start at center from Day 1 and offers the team another player with All-Pro potential on the interior. Tippmann is a difference-maker in the run game and in pass protection; he will be a guiding light for the offense as a rookie.
The reason I am so bullish on the offensive line improving is not just the sheer talent of the starting unit. After suffering numerous injuries over recent years, the Jets decided to stack up the depth chart. Max Mitchell, Billy Turner, and Connor McGovern could all start in a pinch, giving waves of insurance to Rodgers as he settles into his new home.