New York Jets (Last Year: 7-10)
2023 NFL Season Preview:
Veteran Additions:
QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Tim Boyle, WR Allen Lazard, WR Mecole Hardman, WR Randall Cobb, OT Billy Turner, OT Yodny Cajuste, C/G Wes Schweitzer, NT Al Woods, DT Quinton Jefferson, P Thomas Morstead.
Draft Picks:
DE Will McDonald, C/G Joe Tippman, OT Carter Warren, RB Israel Abanikanda. Jets Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
QB Mike White, RB James Robinson, WR Elijah Moore, WR Braxton Berrios, OT George Fant, G Nate Herbig, DT Sheldon Rankins, DT Nathan Shepard, LB Kwon Alexander, S Lamarcus Joyner, K Greg Zuerlein.
2023 New York Jets Offense:
The Aaron Rodgers drama seemed like it lasted an eternity, but the deal was ultimately done prior to the 2023 NFL Draft. The Packers traded Rodgers to the Jets for several draft selections, including a potential first-round pick in the future. The compensation was too much, but the important thing is that the Jets’ quarterback conundrum had finally been resolved, at least in the short term.
Rodgers is coming off a down year, but his struggles stemmed from his broken thumb. He should still have a Pro Bowl-caliber season remaining, especially when considering how determined he is to prove the Packers wrong for trading him. It’ll also help that Rodgers will have a much better supporting cast than what he maintained in Green Bay after Davante Adams departed. While Rodgers’ top wideout last year was either Allen Lazard or Christian Watson, he’ll be able to throw Garrett Wilson, an elite talent. Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Year, catching 83 passes for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns despite being paired with Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, and Mike White. Wilson could challenge for the most receiving yards in the NFL, given the added experience and vastly improved quarterback situation.
Elsewhere in the receiving corps, Rodgers will have Lazard, Corey Davis, and Mecole Hardman at his disposal. The Packers overpaid Lazard, but the chemistry that Rodgers and Lazard have together should make Rodgers’ transition to the Jets even easier than it already was, given the familiarity with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Davis hasn’t lived up to the contract he signed with the Jets, but that may change with the quarterback upgrade. Hardman, meanwhile, never matched his second-round billing, and he doesn’t have the excuse of poor quarterback play because he was always paired with Patrick Mahomes. However, Hardman is a gadget player who can be utilized creatively.
Rodgers will also have quality pass protection on his new team. The Jets don’t quite have the elite left tackle like the Packers possess with David Bakhtiari, but the entirety of the offensive line will be able to shield Rodgers well. The strength of the Jets’ blocking unit is in the interior. Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker form a great guard tandem, with Vera-Tucker capable of playing tackle in a pinch. They’ll sandwich second-round rookie Joe Tippman, who had a chance to be chosen late in the opening frame.
It’s unclear what the Jets will get out of their left tackle situation. Former first-rounder Mekhi Becton is currently slated to start after missing all of 2022 after being overweight and injured. However, Becton is reportedly in good shape, so if that’s true, Rodgers could have quality blind-side protection. The other tackles on the roster are Max Mitchell, Duane Brown, and Billy Turner. If Becton gets hurt again, Brown would be the favorite to start at left tackle, with Mitchell slotted at right tackle. This would not be ideal, as Brown is a 38-year-old whose best days are behind him.
One other question mark on this side of the ball is the availability of Breece Hall. Had Hall not gotten injured last year, he almost certainly would have won Offensive Rookie of the Year, as his game-breaking ability was the catalyst for some early-season victories. However, Hall tore his ACL, and there’s concern that he may not be ready for the start of the season, as evidenced by the team’s interest in Jahmyr Gibbs in the 2023 NFL Draft. If Hall can’t go, the Jets should consider signing Dalvin Cook or another running back because the duo of Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight will be very underwhelming.
2023 New York Jets Defense:
It’s remarkable that the Jets had two Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates and also the Defensive Rookie of the Year winner. While the transition occurred from Breece Hall to Garrett Wilson because of injury, there was no doubt that Sauce Gardner would claim the award. Despite being a rookie, Gardner was a true shutdown cornerback for the Jets. In fact, some metrics had him as the best cornerback in the NFL, period.
Gardner isn’t the only gifted cornerback on the roster. D.J. Reed started across from Gardner after signing a 3-year, $33 million deal a year ago. He lived up to his contract, performing on a high level. Michael Carter II, stationed in the slot, also played well. Carter struggled as a fifth-round rookie in 2021, but made great strides last season.
The safety play doesn’t exactly match the cornerback production, but the Jets don’t have a poor tandem. Jordan Whitehead is the best of the two safeties, at least as far as coverage is concerned. Whitehead’s tackling is a bit suspect, but he’s a decent performer. Chuck Clark suffered a season-ending injury, so he’ll be replaced by Adrian Amos, who is coming off a poor year in Green Bay.
It helps the Jets’ secondary that the pass rush is so excellent at generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. New York ranked third in pressure rate last year, and yet, the front office spent its first-round pick on another edge rusher, adding the athletic Will McDonald. The Iowa State product will join a talented group comprised of Carl Lawson, Jermaine Johnson, and Michael Clemons. Lawson recorded seven sacks last year, while Johnson has a chance to exceed that total. He was a first-round rookie last year who didn’t play too many snaps. He’ll be on the field more often in his sophomore campaign.
New York’s sack leader last year was Quinnen Williams, one of the best 3-4 defensive linemen in the NFL. Williams and John Franklin-Myers are a terrific five-technique duo, and yet the Jets added Quinton Jefferson to help with depth. The front office also obtained Al Woods, a big nose tackle to help versus the run.
If there’s a weakness in the Jets’ defense, it’s at linebacker. C.J. Mosley is the best of the bunch, and yet he had a solid, but unspectacular season. Mosley has an extensive injury history and turned 31 this offseason, so there’s concern with him moving forward. Quincy Williams, the other starter, is a liability, especially in coverage.
2023 New York Jets Schedule and Intangibles:
Greg Zuerlein hit 30-of-37 field goals last year, with most of his misses coming from 50-plus. He was 6-of-11 from that range.
Punter Thomas Morstead was near the bottom of the NFL in net average, but did a good job of pinning opponents inside the 20.
The Jets have a mixed non-divisional schedule. They have to battle the Chiefs, Chargers, Eagles, but they also get to take on the Raiders, Texans, and Redskins.
2023 New York Jets Rookies:
Go here for the Jets Rookie Forecast, a page with predictions like which rookie will bust and which rookie will become a solid starter.
2023 New York Jets Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
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2023 New York Jets Analysis: The Jets were 7-10 last year, but lost six games by one score. It seems likely that Aaron Rodgers will turn many of those close losses into victories. Given that the Jets have a great roster for the most part, they could be the next team to win a Super Bowl after adding a veteran quarterback, continuing the tradition that the 2020 Buccaneers and 2021 Rams created.
Projection: 12-5 (2nd in AFC East)
2022 Projection: 3-14. 2022 Actual Result: 7-10.
2021 Projection: 4-13. 2021 Actual Result: 4-13.
2020 Projection: 3-13. 2020 Actual Result: 2-14.
2019 Projection: 10-6. 2019 Actual Result: 7-9.
2018 Projection: 5-11. 2018 Actual Result: 4-12.
2017 Projection: 2-14. 2017 Actual Result: 5-11.
2016 Projection: 6-10. 2016 Actual Result: 5-11.
NFL Draft Team Grade: C+ Grade
Goals Entering the 2023 NFL Draft: The Jets will be one of the top teams in the NFL once they finalize the Aaron Rodgers trade. It’ll be essential not to surrender any significant picks for Rodgers in this year’s draft because every selection will matter when it comes down to battling the Bills, Bengals, and Chiefs. If the Jets keep their selections, they’ll need to focus on improving the offensive line, linebacking corps, and secondary.
2023 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The poor Jets had four potential realistic targets at No. 15, and all of them went off the board between picks 10-14. This is why they spent nearly the entire 10 allotted minutes, as they were likely calling teams to trade out of desperation. They couldn’t find any takers, so they had to settle for Will McDonald. The Iowa State product is a talented edge rusher, but he’s undersized, so he belonged in the second round.
I don’t know why the Jets didn’t have Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a Plan E, but that’s whom I would have drafted. I doubt Aaron Rodgers would have complained! Regardless, the Jets got back on track in the second round with a solid pick in Joe Tippman, who will provide a needed upgrade in the interior of the offensive line. Another blocker, Carter Warren, was a mediocre pick in Round 4. Their highest-rated selection was a sixth-round pick used on Jarrick Bernard-Converse. He’s a talented cornerback, but doesn’t fill a need.
Had the Jets not swapped picks with the Packers, they would have obtained one of their desired prospects. That aspect of the deal backfired, causing the Jets to have a disappointing draft.
NFL Draft Individual Grades:
15. Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State – D Grade
Wow, what a reach! The Jets wanted Darnell Wright, Peter Skoronski, and Broderick Jones, and all of them went off the board at 10, 11, and 14, respectively. The poor Jets then had to panic and go for Will McDonald, who was widely considered a second-round prospect. I like McDonald, and getting a pass rusher seems significant in the passing-stacked AFC, so I’m not going to fail the Jets. However, the Jets should have been able to trade down 10-15 spots. They could have gotten McDonald in the 20s.
43. Joe Tippman, C/G, Wisconsin – A Grade
The Jets finally get their offensive lineman. They missed out on all the tackles in the opening round, but they still obtained a prospect who could have been chosen at the end of the opening frame. Joe Tippman can play center and guard, so he’ll be extremely helpful in a potential Super Bowl run. Aaron Rodgers has to be happy about this.
120. Carter Warren, OT, Pittsburgh – B- Grade
The Jets get their high-upside tackle, albeit much later than originally planned. Carter Warren needs improvements in his game, but he has the ability to eventually become a starting tackle in the NFL. He could have been obtained a bit later, but at least the Jets traded down.
143. Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh – C Grade
Jahmyr Gibbs was the Jets’ Plan D in the first round, as there are some major concerns with Breece Hall’s knee injury. The Jets eventually got their runner, but Israel Abanikanda is an underwhelming, late-round prospect.
184. Zaire Barnes, LB, Western Michigan – C Grade
I didn’t have Zaire Barnes mocked in any of my updates. He’s a solid tackler and blitzer, but is a limited athlete and not very instinctive as a linebacker, which is a problem.
204. Jarrick Bernard-Converse, CB, LSU – A+ Grade
I want to find out why Jarrick Bernard-Converse fell so hard in the 2023 NFL Draft because I thought he easily could have gone in the third round. Bernard-Converse has good size, quickness and athleicism. The Jets didn’t need a cornerback, but they’re getting a talented prospect.
220. Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion – B+ Grade
Zack Kuntz was one of the most athletic tight ends at the combine. I thought he’d go a bit earlier as a result, but the Jets are getting a good value and a potential weapon for Aaron Rodgers.
Season Summary:
The Jets caught fire in the middle of the season and seemed to have a great chance to reach the playoffs. Disaster struck in the second Buffalo game, however, when Mike White suffered a rib injury. The Bills lost their next four games after that to close out the year.
Offseason Moves:
Team Needs:
- Quarterback: The Jets need a veteran quarterback to pilot an offense packed with talent. Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo seem like the leading candidates.
- Left Tackle: Protecting this new quarterback will be imperative. Mekhi Becton is not trustworthy, so a new left tackle is needed.
- Linebacker: The Jets really struggled to cover the middle of the field. Upgrading linebacker is a huge priority.
- Safety: New York must completely bolster the middle of the defense. Safety must be upgraded.
- Center: Re-signing Connor McGovern will be crucial. He’ll need to be replaced if that doesn’t happen. Signed Wes Schweitzer
- Defensive Linemen: The Jets will need to re-sign some of their free agent defensive linemen. Signed Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods
- Tight End: New York could stand to add a better tight end, though Tyler Conklin is OK.
- Kicker: Greg Zuerlein is an impending free agent.
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2023 NFL Free Agent Signings:
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Thomas Morstead, P, Dolphins. Age: 37. 
Signed with Jets
Thomas Morstead ranked as a top-10 punter last year, but he turns 37 this offseason.
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Allen Lazard, WR, Packers. Age: 27.
Signed with Jets (4 years, $44 million)
Allen Lazard is a solid possession receiver, but doesn’t offer much upside.
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Mecole Hardman, WR, Chiefs. Age: 25.
Signed with Jets
Mecole Hardman is a phenomenal athlete, but isn’t a good football player. However, he’s still just 25, so there’s lots of time for him to develop.
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Billy Turner, OT, Broncos. Age: 31.
Signed with Jets
Billy Turner is a mediocre-to-pedestrian starting offensive tackle. He missed some time with a knee injury last year.
- Wes Schweitzer, C, Redskins. Age: 29.
— Signed with Jets
- Al Woods, NT, Seahawks. Age: 36. — Signed with Jets
- Quinton Jefferson, DT, Seahawks. Age: 30. — Signed with Jets
- Yodny Cajuste, OT, Patriots. Age: 27. — Signed with Jets
- Randall Cobb, WR, Packers. Age: 33. — Signed with Jets
New York Jets Free Agents:
Salary Cap: TBA.
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Connor McGovern, C/G, Jets. Age: 30.
Re-signed with Jets
Connor McGovern is a solid starting interior lineman. He can play both guard and center.
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Greg Zuerlein, K, Jets. Age: 35.
Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein hit 30-of-37 field goals in 2022, including 6-of-11 from 50-plus. He has one of the strongest legs in the NFL.
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Mike White, QB, Jets. Age: 28.
Signed with Jets (2 years)
Mike White has been the best Jets quarterback in years, though that’s not saying much. The problem with White is that he hasn’t shown an ability to stay healthy.
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Sheldon Rankins, DT, Jets. Age: 29.
Signed with Texans (1 year, $10.5 million)
Sheldon Rankins has a dubious injury history, but he performed well in all regards last year.
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George Fant, OT, Jets. Age: 31.
George Fant can be a viable starting tackle when healthy, but he was dealing with a troublesome knee injury last year.
- James Robinson, RB, Jets. Age: 25. — Signed with Patriots (2 years, $8 million)
- Braxton Berrios, WR, Jets. Age: 27. — Signed with Dolphins
- Nathan Shepherd, DT, Jets. Age: 29. — Signed with Saints
- Lamarcus Joyner, S, Jets. Age: 32.
- Kwon Alexander, LB, Jets. Age: 29.
- Nate Herbig, G, Jets. Age: 25. — Signed with Steelers
- Ty Johnson, RB, Jets. Age: 25. — Re-signed with Jets
- Solomon Thomas, DE, Jets. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Jets (1 year)
- Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Jets. Age: 31. — Signed with Dolphins
- Dan Feeney, G, Jets. Age: 29.
- Vinny Curry, DE, Jets. Age: 35.
- Mike Remmers, OT, Jets. Age: 34.
- Joe Flacco, QB, Jets. Age: 38.
- Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, G, Jets. Age: 32.
NFL Free Agent Tracker:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P | FA Grades | FA Rumors
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