The New York Jets failed to live up to the high expectations set for the team in 2023. Following their acquisition of Aaron Rodgers in a trade with the Green Bay Packers, there were many who believed that the Jets could compete for a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, New York fell well short of that goal.
Rodgers tore his Achilles just four snaps into their Week One game against the Buffalo Bills, and the numerous free agent signings they made (many of whom were of Rodgers’ former Packers teammates) did not pan out. The defense was elite enough to help the Jets win seven games, but the offense, led primarily by former second overall pick Zach Wilson, was a huge disappointment.
After their season ended with another 7-10 record, general manager Joe Douglas set to work retooling the offense.
The New York Jets Hope They Have Built a Solid Offense Around Aaron Rodgers
![New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers' Latest Comments Reveal He May Have Influenced One of the Team's Picks in 2024 NFL Draft 1 Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Rodgers RFK, Aaron Rodgers, vice president, Aaron Rodgers Robert Kennedy, Aaron Rodgers Joe Biden](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_1812-200x300.jpeg)
Fortunately for the Jets, they already have a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Rodgers and a bonified number one wide receiver in Garrett Wilson. However, it was clear last season that the offensive line needed reinforcements and that former Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard was not a capable number two option at the position.
So, Douglas went to work addressing both of those areas on offense in both free agency and the NFL Draft. At tackle, he drafted Olu Fashanu with the 11th overall pick to be the team’s left tackle of the future. Douglas also signed eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith as a stop-gap at the position.
At wide receiver, Douglas went out and signed former Los Angles Chargers pass catcher Mike Williams to a one-year contract. Like Rodgers, Williams is coming off of a major injury from 2023 (he tore his ACL) and feels like he has a lot to prove in terms of his ability to come back from it.
In the draft, Douglas and the Jets traded up in the third round (they did not have a second round pick due to the trade with the Packers last year) to draft wide receiver Malachi Corley from Western Kentucky.
As it turns out, Rodgers may have been the one pulling the strings behind the scenes when that pick was made.
New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Has High Praise for Wide Receiver Malachi Corley
![New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers' Latest Comments Reveal He May Have Influenced One of the Team's Picks in 2024 NFL Draft 2 New York Jets, Malachi Corley](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_21611062_168400517_lowres-300x300.jpg)
Rodgers, known for his guest appearances on controversial podcasts, was recently a guest on the Jets’ official (and far less controversial) podcast. During his interview, he revealed that out of all the wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft (including Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze, Corley was his favorite.
He said, “[He was] my favorite wide receiver in the draft. Now, he might not have been the best on paper in the draft, but I really felt like he was going to fit in with what we’re trying to do — his mindset, his ferocity.”
As mentioned previously, many (if not all) of the moves that Rodgers influenced last season (i.e. Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb) did not work out very well. If the Jets made this pick to appease their all-world quarterback, they should hope it turns out better than his past recommendations.
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