The 2022 New York Jets ended their season 7-10, dead last in the AFC East. Despite brilliant rookie seasons from wide receiver Garrett Wilson, running back Breece Hall (though it was cut short by injury), and cornerback Sauce Gardner, the Jets could not figure out how to win consistently. A big part of the issue, they felt, was that 2021 second overall pick Zach Wilson was not ready to be a starting quarterback.
The solution, in their opinion, was to go out and get a veteran quarterback who could mentor Wilson for a couple of years. They had tried it with Joe Flacco a bit in 2022, but did not feel he was good enough. So, owner Woody Johnson and general manager Joe Douglas set their sights on disgruntled Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The New York Jets Went Above and Beyond to Please Aaron Rodgers
By now, everyone is familiar with how and why Rodgers ended up in New York. The Packers, tired of the four-time MVP’s constant back-and-forth in regards to actually wanting to play, felt it was time to hand over the reins to Jordan Love. General manager Brian Gutekunst’s attempts to reach Rodgers during the offseason went unanswered, and Green Bay decided to trade the future Hall of Famer.
In the end, it was the Jets who Rodgers wanted to play for, thanks to visits from team owner Woody Johnson. It also helped that the team went out and signed wide receiver Allen Lazard, one of Rodgers’ favorite teammates in Green Bay. They also hired Nathaniel Hackett, who was the offensive coordinator of the Packers when Rodgers won his last two NFL MVP Awards, to the same position on their staff.
After the trade was complete, the Jets also signed former Packers Randall Cobb, Billy Turner, Adrian Amos, and Tim Boyle. The hope was that Rodgers and his buddies from “back home” would be able to elevate the Jets to Super Bowl contention.
Neither Aaron Rodgers Nor His Former Teammates Lived Up to the Hype for the New York Jets in 2023
Unfortunately for the Jets, that did not happen. After a training camp that was well-documented on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” that helped build up hype around the team, Rodgers tore his Achilles four snaps into his first game with New York. And it all went down hill from there.
Lazard and Cobb put up the worst statistical seasons of their careers and sometimes found themselves as healthy scratches from games later in the season. Boyle was a disaster in the two games he started for New York and ended up released. So did Amos, and both of them ended the season playing for the Houston Texans.
As for Turner, he barely played 25% of the snaps on an offensive line that was one of the worst in the NFL.
At the end of the season, the Jets were 7-10 once again and the only thing saving the jobs of the coaching staff was the fact that Rodgers wants them around. He also ignored Zach Wilson and let the young quarterback flounder in 2023. As a result, Wilson does not want to return to the Jets, and New York quite frankly doesn’t want him.
It was an absolute disaster filled with reports of disfunction and finger-pointing. That, however, has not stopped young players in the 2024 NFL Draft from wanting to be drafted by New York for the chance to play with the living legend.
Georgia Bulldogs Tight End Brock Bowers Wants to Play with Aaron Rodgers
Obviously, the Jets are going to need to improve in many ways this offseason, and part of that is going to come from the NFL Draft. Perhaps the main focus of need for New York is the offensive line, which needs a great deal of work. However, they also are in need of some weapons in the passing game to take the pressure off of Garrett Wilson.
If one projected top-ten pick had it his way, he would be playing with Rodgers this season:
Brock Bowers on potentially being drafted by the #Jets:
“It’d be pretty sweet to play w/ Aaron Rodgers. He’s one of the best of All-Time to do it at QB, & it’d be cool to learn under him & just play w/ him.”
Do you want the #Jets to draft Bowers at 10❓ pic.twitter.com/yaR6ORtY2O
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) February 29, 2024
Brock Bowers is considered by many to be a top-ten draft pick this year, with some having him going as high as fourth overall to the Arizona Cardinals. And while Bowers will go wherever he is drafted, he states in the video above that “it’d be cool to learn under him and play with him and hopefully learn some stuff.”
The Jets have tight end Tyler Conklin, who was second on the team in receiving yards last year with 621 yards. He is, however, in the final year of his contract in 2024. It would not be surprising if the Jets address the tight end position in the draft, and given how many quality offensive linemen there are, if Bowers falls to them at 10, it is possible they take him.
As mentioned, though, offensive line is the biggest need on that side of the ball. While Bowers teaming up with Rodgers might be a fun idea, it probably will not happen. And if it does, the Jets will almost certainly use their next pick (in the third round) on an offensive lineman.
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