What a time to be alive if you are a New York Jets fan. Over the past two weeks, Jets General Manager Joe Douglas and co have made all the right moves to put this starving organization in a position to be one of the AFC’s elite.
Yes, you heard it right…the NEW YORK JETS are widely considered Super Bowl contenders.
It was all made possible with the addition of 4x NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers, coupled with a solid draft and veteran free agent signings.
Where going to take a deep dive into all the additions that will be significant contributors in 2023.
Aaron Rodgers
Before this upcoming year, Rodgers spent his whole 18-year career as a member of the Green Bay Packers organization. However, from the moment he stepped into the Jets facility, he became the best quarterback in franchise history.
To put it all in perspective, Rodgers had had 10 seasons throwing for over 4,000 yards, while the Jets had only had one such season dating back to 1967 when Joe Namath did it.
Even though Rodgers is coming off of a “down year” in 2022, he still threw for 3,695 yards, 26 TDs, and 12 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 91.1. Luckily the Jets don’t need Rodgers to return to his MVP form, as they already have an ultra-talented defense and young, explosive playmakers on offense.
The Jets finished 2022 with a 7-10 record, falling short of the playoffs for the 12th straight season, primarily due to poor and inconsistent quarterback play. But with the addition of a top-five quarterback in the NFL, the expectation around the building is Super Bowl in 2023.
Most importantly, Rodgers has made it known that he is “all-in,” as he has been attending all voluntary off-season workouts, something he hasn’t done in multiple years.
In a recent interview, Rodgers spoke more about his determination going into 2023, saying,
“I know it’s been a long time since we’ve been in the playoffs, even longer since we’ve been in the Super Bowl, but I promise you I’m as hungry as you guys are & I am excited to be a part of something special this year.”
Will McDonald
At 15th overall in the NFL draft, the Jets drafted edge rusher Will McDonald out of Iowa State.
The 6’4 uber-athletic pass rusher produced 34 career sacks in college, tying for most in BIG 12 history. In addition, McDonald forced 10 career fumbles, the most in Iowa State history.
Mcdonald is an extremely explosive athlete that plays with active feet and uses his long 34 7/8 inch arms to make it hard for offensive tackles to block him effectively. He also has a twitchy spin move that has been compared to Dwight Freeney’s.
Mcdonald may initially struggle in setting the edge vs. the run due to his smaller 236-pound frame, where NFL linemen can overwhelm him. However, in a recent interview, McDonald acknowledged that he wants to bulk up to 250 pounds to be a down player.
Even though the Jets rotate their defensive line heavily, expect McDonald to get every opportunity to pin his ears and get to the quarterback, hoping to create more game-changing turnover opportunities.
Joe Tippmann
As many Jets fans know, some of the best years of the franchise’s history were with having elite HOF Center play from guys like Kevin Mawae (1998-2005) and Nick Mangold (2006-2016). So with the 43rd pick in the NFL draft, the Jets selected Joe Tippmann in hopes he could be the next great Center for years to come.
Tippmann has a unique combination of size and athleticism that isn’t found in many centers around the league. His 6’6, 313-pound frame allows him to be a mauler, all while being nimble enough to cover ground as he works onto the second level.
In 24 games in college, Tippmann only allowed 1 sack in 590 pass-blocking snaps.
Outside of pure physical ability, one of Tippmann’s greatest strengths is his communication and understanding of the game, according to NFL analyst Todd McShay.
Al Woods
After coming in for a visit a few weeks back, Defensive Tackle Al Woods has agreed to terms with the Jets. The veteran DT is 36 years old and has played 13 NFL seasons. Woods is a 6’4, 330-pound space eater that has always been known for his ability to stop the run.
Why is this signing important? Because the Jets’ one weakness defensively was the inability to stop the run. Jets ranked as the 17th-best defense against the run allowing 121.6 yards a game.
According to Jetsxfactor, “Woods ranked 34th out of 150 qualified defensive tackles with a run stop win rate of 8.5%. Making 18 run stops on 212 run defensive snaps.”
Overview
With the addition of Aaron Rodgers, the Jets have entered a two, maybe 3-year window of competing for the Super Bowl. Through numerous acquisitions over the last two weeks, Joe Douglas has added plenty of pieces for a championship run.
The roster looks good on paper, but now it’s about how it translates on the field. The 2023 Jets will undoubtedly be one of the most intriguing storylines to watch.
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