The New York Jets open 2024 with hopes their quarterback can play like when he was 28 while he is 40. Sure, why not? But before the season kicks off, let’s go over 2023. It was a disappointing 7-10 season, with Aaron Rodgers suffering an Achilles tear four snaps into the season and the fourth consecutive season with ten or more losses. With Rodgers now healthy, is all the Jets need for a 40-year-old QB past his prime who just came off an Achilles tear? It does sound like a Jets thing to do.
2024 Offseason:
Jets fans claim last year would’ve been better had Rodgers not gotten injured and had had solid quarterback play. So, to help this out, the Jets signed quarterback Tyrod Taylor as a backup. Other signings and trades would go to players like OL Morgan Moses, John Simpson, Tyron Smith, DT Javon Kinlaw, WR Mike Williams, and LB Haason Reddick. If the team can stay healthy, they can contribute a ton. But the departures are many. QB Zach Wilson, WR Randall Cobb, TE CJ Uzomah, OT Mekhi Becton, DE Carl Lawson, S Jordan Whitehead, and more left the Jets. And in the midseason, they acquired WR DaVante Adams from the Raiders and sent away Mike Williams to the Steelers.
Regarding offseason finances, the Jets spent $62.9M in free agency (24th overall), $57.8M in extensions (27th overall), $48M in draft picks (21st overall), and $62.3M in undrafted free agents (3rd overall), for a total of $233.2M (29th overall).
The Draft:
After negotiating with the Vikings for the tenth overall pick, the Jets held the eleventh overall pick. The Jets selected OT Olu Fashanu out of Penn State with this pick. With the pick of Fashanu, the Jets selected six additional players from the draft and signed eighteen undrafted free agents. Of these 25 players, only four played 200+ snaps. The previously mentioned Fashanu, RB Braelon Allen (Wisconsin, 4th RD), DT Leonard Taylor III (DT, UDFA), and DE Eric Watts (UConn, UDFA).
2024 Rookie Stats-
Olu Fashanu – 534 snaps, 1 sack, 4 QB hits, 18 hurries, 23 pressures allowed
Braelon Allen – 283 snaps, 334 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs
Leonard Taylor III – 261 snaps, 24 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 pass defense
Eric Watts – 231 snaps, 13 total tackles
Expectations:
The Jets still had positive expectations for this season. Anytime Aaron Rodgers is on a team, they are still considered a threat. Not as much as they would if this was five years ago, but still, some credibility. Tied for 10th for best odds to win the big one at +2000 odds and tied 11th on the O/U wins at 9.5. The Jets retain a good roster with names like Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Quinnen Williams, and Sauce Gardner, making for a solid roster. And a good coach at Robert Saleh. All this adds up to a success. Right?
2024 Season:
This season includes six matchups against the AFC East, NFC West, AFC South, Broncos, Vikings, and Steelers. Based on projected win totals, the Jets have the fourth-easiest schedule in the league. Is it FINALLY time for the Jets to soar into the playoffs and end the nearly 15-year playoff drought? Or will they suffer their worst record since 2021? Guess what happened.
Team Offensive Stats-
5275 total offensive yards, 310.9 YPG – 24th overall
3714 total passing yards, 218.4 YPG – 16th overall
1561 total rushing yards, 91.8 YPG – 31st overall
338 total points scored, 19.8 PPG – 25th overall
The Jets took their name literally and decided to go only through the air. The Jets had 607 passing attempts (5th overall) and 363 rushing attempts (32nd overall). The Jets on third down conversions had 83 total (tied 23rd overall), fourth down conversions were a total of 10 (24th overall), and 30 red zone touchdowns (tied 18th overall). The turnover game was average, with 11 thrown interceptions (tied for 22nd overall) and 20 lost fumbles (tied for 19th overall). The offensive line allowed 40 sacks (tied for 16th overall) and was a solid unit when Tyron Smith was in the game but struggled after his injury. They did well against pressure, but the run game also struggled.
Offensive Leaders Stats-
Aaron Rodgers – 368/584, 3897 passing yards, 28 passing TDs, 11 int.
Breece Hall – 209 carries, 876 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs
Garrett Wilson – 101 rec, 1104 receiving yards, 7 receiving TDs
At least the Raiders were unsure about their running back core, but what’s the excuse for New York? Breece Hall is a solidified player in the backfield and a big name for any team, but the Jets decided to keep him away from the offense. The fact that he still nearly had 900 rushing yards is a miracle. And despite Rodgers’ age, he did perform better than in 2022. But the 2024 Rodgers can’t touch the 2021 Rodgers. But with the receiving core he had this year, Garrett Wilson, DaVante Adams, and Allen Lazard, it would be hard not to do well.
Team Defensive Stats-
5334 total yards allowed, 313.7 YPG – 3rd overall
3275 total passing yards allowed, 192.6 YPG- 4th overall
2059 total rushing yards allowed, 121.1 YPG – 17th overall
404 total points allowed, 23.7 PPG – 20th overall
These stats tell an interesting story. They did great against the pass, averaged against the run, and were below average when stopping points. On third down, they allowed 83 conversions (14th overall). On fourth down, they allowed 16 conversions (tied for 16th overall). In the red zone, they allowed 37 touchdowns (tied for 27th overall). For getting to the quarterback, the Jets sacked them 43 times (tied 11th overall). But 128 missed tackles (5th overall) and 44.6% of drives ending in an offensive score (30th overall) couldn’t have helped.
Defensive Leaders Stats-
Jamien Sherwood – 158 total tackles
Will McDonald IV – 10.5 sacks
Ashtyn Davis & Brandin Echols – 2 ints (tied)
The Jets possess defensive talent. Guys like linebackers Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams, defensive linemen Quinnen Williams and Leonard Taylor III, and cornerbacks DJ Reed and Sauce Gardner did well for the team. The Jets have a solid scheme against the pass but need help with the run. Players like Will McDonald and Brandin Echols did show struggles on the ground. Along with the missed tackles, the Jets have plenty of areas for improvement, especially if they want to be a top-ten defense. Some safety help may come in handy.
Final Grade: F
Positives-
Whoever joins the Jets at QB next year will have plenty of weapons. A solid running back and a great receiving core is at their disposal. Also, defense wins championships, and the Jets have built a solid one. If they can build on their talent, the unit can be dangerous. And with the seventh overall pick, they can add the little pieces to complete the defense. Drafting Mason Graham or Malaki Starks will be the move.
Negatives-
Firing Robert Saleh when he wasn’t the biggest issue was a move that angered many fans and Jets players alike in a move by owner Woody Johnson. Many people wanted the front office to see that having a quarterback be your owner never works out. Rodgers possessed too much power on the team, and instead of trying to get key pieces, they added DaVante Adams because reuniting Rodgers with a guy he hasn’t thrown to since 2021 will lead to a Lombardi trophy. There’s a secret step in the middle of all that the Jets think will happen. Rodgers’ last two years in the league have been a disaster, but at least Rodgers is already HOF-bound and has a ring to his name. What do the Jets get? Laughter, which is more than they deserve. But the most enormous laughter is towards the owner, Woody Johnson. Let’s go over his incredible 2024 campaign. Last February, the Jets were in talks to trade for Jerry Jeudy from Denver. While Jeudy hasn’t reached his stride as a first-round pick, he’s still young and still has untapped talent. However, Woody Johnson decided to move on from these trade talks due to this reason: his Madden rating wasn’t high enough. I’m not kidding. After the 2024 season, Jeudy went on to amass 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. Also, Johnson’s teenage sons are a big influence on the decisions in the franchise. But we’re not done with his sons there. After Saleh’s firing, one of the sons also ruined a special moment for the interim coach, Jeff Ulbrich. It’s a customary gesture that a coach gets the game ball after their first win. But before this, one of Johnson’s sons took out another game ball and handed it to Garrett Wilson for a great catch he had in the game. Towards the end of the season, all the Jets players were mentally exhausted and ready to call it a year. And at $19.6M in cap room, a good free agency run will be tough. A worse record with Rodgers than with Zach Wilson last year at a 7-10 record. The Jets are genuinely an enigma. Just End The Suffering.
