Coming into the 2023 season, the Jets had Super Bowl aspirations. They had acquired Aaron Rodgers, one of the best quarterbacks of all time, in a trade. Former second-overall pick Zach Wilson had not worked out. The Jets knew they had an elite defense. They just needed better quarterback play to become a contender.
Aaron Rodgers would tear his Achilles four plays into the 2023 season. Wilson took over, but the offense continued to struggle. Despite the defense ranking third in yards allowed, the Jets would finish 7-10. But with a healthy Aaron Rodgers, the Jets were expected to compete for a championship in 2024. Instead, they have been one of the worst teams in the NFL and currently hold a 3-9 record.
What Happened?
You could make a documentary on everything that has gone wrong with the Jets this season. Let’s just say the offensive line has been below average. Starting tackles, Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, were great players in their prime. But they are both over 30 and not playing to the level they used to. Talented 2024 first-round pick Olu Fashanu has also struggled when filling in at both tackle and guard.
The skill position players have disappointed as well. Running back Breece Hall has dealt with multiple injuries in his young career. It looks to me like he has lost some of the explosiveness he had the previous two seasons. Davante Adams is still a great receiver but nowhere near the elite playmaker, he was a few years ago. Allen Lazard is currently on IR and has not lived up to his $44 million contract. Garrett Wilson has had a few outstanding games. However, he and Rodgers have been unable to develop a consistent chemistry.
Then there is the quarterback. Rodgers has not been terrible. But he has not been good either. He does not move like he used to in the pocket. The Achilles injury seems to have taken a toll. Rodgers is also missing throws he used to make regularly when he was an MVP. It certainly doesn’t help that they lack a true deep threat to keep the opposing defense honest. What is surprising is the lack of accuracy on throws he used to consistently make.
The Consequence
After three and a half seasons, the Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-5 start. A lot of Jets fans were happy about this and hoped it would turn their season around. That has not happened, and they have won just one game under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. Then after taking most of his control over personnel away, the Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas.
These moves could be the best thing for these two gentlemen. Saleh and Douglas were far from perfect. But it’s hard to blame them for everything that has gone wrong. Saleh turned the Jets into a terrific defensive unit. He is still regarded as a great defensive mind and should have no trouble getting a defensive coordinator job. Teams will be lining up to hire him for that role.
As far as Douglas goes, I don’t think he was calling all the shots in the front office over the years. This team was built around Aaron Rodgers and a lot of the moves made in the last two seasons were to make Rodgers happy. Rodgers denied he that gave the Jets a list of players to acquire. We may never know if that is true or not. However, it seems like the Jets bent over backward to acquire three of his former Packer wide receivers that were all past their prime. I have a feeling owner Woody Johnson was the one making the call on all these moves.
Plan Going Forward
Woody Johnson should hire a new general manager and then stay out of it. Let the new GM have full control over personnel decisions. Whenever Johnson gets involved, things go bad for the Jets. Obviously, I am not a billionaire who owns an NFL franchise. I understand wanting a say in your team. However, Johnson should hire someone who knows what he is doing and trust the process. Meddling owners can keep your team mediocre year after year. Just ask Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguar fans.
If I were Woody Johnson, I would have a general manager in place by Christmas. Why not get started on the search so that the new GM has more time to evaluate the roster? There are reports that Johnson is consulting with The 33rd Team on their search, specifically former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings GM Rick Spielman. I don’t know what to make of that. Those two are now in the media and never had success building championship teams. Plus, Tannenbaum recently had an outrageous trade proposal and got a lot of flak for it.
Final Thoughts
Things never clicked for the Jets this season. Rodgers looks like a league-average quarterback and is not playing like an MVP anymore. The offensive line has been a mess. Despite trading for Davante Adams, Rodgers is not always on the same page with his wide receivers. And finally, the defense is not nearly as good as it was in 2023, especially against the run. All of this has led to a dismal 3-9 record. The Jets will likely be getting an overhaul with a new GM and head coach coming in. They certainly need a new plan. Here’s hoping they are the team featured in Hard Knocks Off Season.
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