The NFL Draft and free agency have come and gone. Now all eyes are on the start of the NFL season in September.
Offseason programs are beginning to open up, and while injuries certainly happen in the preseason, we have a more complete picture of each NFL roster, more or less.
One of the rosters drawing a lot of attention as we venture into this season is the New York Jets.
Why?
Well, they traded for Aaron Rodgers and have perhaps the greatest quarterback the franchise has ever seen heading into the 2023-24 season.
They’re tied for fourth in the NFL futures market to win the Super Bowl at +1500 with the Dallas Cowboys. At +800, it’s a three-team race between the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers.
Here, we’ll explore the Jet’s chances of winning the Super Bowl come February 2024.
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Rodgers Finally Has Weapons
When Rodgers was on his way out of the Green Bay Packers, a common criticism of the team that calls Lambeau Field home was their inability to get weapons for Rodgers.
The Packers haven’t drafted a receiver in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002 — years before Rodgers was drafted.
Rodgers had an elite weapon in Davante Adams, that carried the room for a while, but after the Packers didn’t pay up, he left for the Las Vegas Raiders.
In 2022, the Packers averaged 213.6 passing yards per game compared to 250.6 passing yards per game in 2021.
At the Jets, Rodgers has an abundance of weapons. There's 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson plus Mecole Hardman, Denzel Mims, and Corey Davis. He'll also be able to call former Packer Allen Lazard a team-mate
In the back field, the impressive young running back Breece Hall was heading for a Rookie of the Year campaign until he got hurt, and the Jets are also stacked at tight end.
Jets Have An Elite Defense
According to Pro Football Focus, the Jets owned the second-best defense in the league in 2022-23, only behind the Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition to numerous pass rushers like John Franklin-Myers, Quinnen Williams, Quinton Jefferson, and Carl Lawson, the Jets have a phenomenal secondary.
Not only did they have the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but they also had the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year in cornerback Sauce Gardner, who, in year one, was one of the best cornerbacks in the league, allowing just one touchdown all season.
The Packers had plenty of talent, but were more of a middling defense overall.
Locker Room Culture Overhaul
In bringing in Rodgers, you’re not only getting a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and multi-time MVP. You’re also getting a player that’ll push everyone else on the team to play well.
When Rodgers was first traded, several players, headlined by Gardner, were excited to see him join the team.
Rodgers is already participating in off season practices, and his presence alone will make the players, young and old alike, feel like they’re competing for something bigger.
With Zach Wilson at quarterback, that wasn't there, and is a factor that could easily de-motivate certain players meaning they don't fight as hard.
With Rodgers, expect him to hold everyone accountable for every single play and force everyone to get better, thus elevating the team.
