After the primary season of the Aaron Rodgers period failed miserably, the stress is on for the New York Jets to show issues round in 2024. Whereas they don’t seem to be precisely off to one of the best begin on this entrance following edge-rusher Haason Reddick’s commerce request, the Jets have the personnel to make loads of noise this season.
Listed here are the franchise’s 5 most beneficial individuals for 2024:
5. Linebacker Quincy Williams
A former waiver declare, Williams — the brother of Jets star DT Quinnen Williams — made a reputation for himself in 2023 however someway nonetheless stays one of the vital underrated linebackers within the NFL. Final season, the 27-year-old stuffed the stat sheet, racking up a career-high 139 tackles, 15 for loss, 10 go breakups, two pressured fumbles and one interception.
Whereas Quincy’s efforts had been adequate to earn a first-team All-Professional choice and be named the Jets 2023 Curtis Martin Workforce MVP, he wasn’t voted into the Professional Bowl Video games. Some executives and coaches are nonetheless overlooking Quincy, provided that he did not crack ESPN’s high 10 listing of off-ball linebackers. Even so, Quincy’s friends acknowledge his expertise, as he was named the No. 32 participant within the NFL’s High-100 listing.
If he can put collectively one other sturdy season, Quincy ought to obtain the credit score he has lengthy deserved.
4. Working again Breece Corridor
In an age the place most groups lean on a operating back-by-committee method, Corridor is among the few true workhorse tailbacks left within the NFL. The 2022 second-round decide made an instantaneous impression for the Jets as a rookie, totaling 681 yards and 5 touchdowns in his first seven video games earlier than struggling a season-ending torn ACL. On the time of his harm, Corridor ranked fifth amongst operating backs in receiving yards per sport (31.1) and second in yards per contact (6.88).
Corridor returned to the sphere for final season’s opener in opposition to Buffalo, and whereas he handled some inconsistencies all through 2023, he nonetheless completed with the fourth-most yards from scrimmage within the NFL (1,585) and scored 9 touchdowns. Corridor’s sturdy end to 2023 gives optimism for his outlook this season, as he amassed 507 yards from scrimmage and scored 4 touchdowns over his last three video games. With a revamped offensive line and maybe the most important quarterback improve a staff may ask for, Corridor may garner Offensive Participant of the Yr votes in 2024.
3. Cornerback Sauce Gardner
Since being drafted fourth total in 2022, Gardner has arguably been the NFL’s high cornerback and one of many driving forces behind the Jets permitting the second-fewest passing yards during the last two seasons (6,708). Contemplating he is the primary cornerback because the AFL/NFL merger to be named a first-team All-Professional by the Related Press in every of his first two seasons, it is truthful to say Gardner is on a Corridor-of-Fame trajectory.
As identified by Professional Soccer Focus’ John Kosko, Gardner, who has 31 profession go breakups, has allowed simply 0.53 yards per protection snap since 2022, one of the best mark amongst all cornerbacks. Nonetheless, Gardner’s dominance in protection has led to opposing quarterbacks holding him in excessive regard and, in flip, concentrating on him much less continuously. In consequence, Gardner solely has two profession interceptions, each of which got here throughout his Defensive Rookie of the Yr-winning season.
Coming into 2024, Jets HC Robert Saleh is pushing Gardner to select off extra passes, significantly because the two-time Professional bowler dropped a few simple interceptions final season. Gardner seems as much as the problem, and if he is profitable, New York’s elite protection may attain a good higher stage this season.
2. Defensive deal with Quinnen Williams
With future Corridor of Famer Aaron Donald now retired, Quinnen has the possibility to ascertain himself as the brand new greatest defensive deal with within the NFL this season. The Alabama product wasn’t significantly dominant throughout his first three seasons, however he has developed into one of many high inside forces the league has to supply during the last two seasons.
Since 2022, Quinnen has generated 122 pressures, the third-most amongst defensive tackles behind solely Kansas Metropolis’s Chris Jones and Dexter Lawrence II of the Giants. In that span, the two-time Professional Bowler has additionally collected 117 whole tackles, 17.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception. Quinnen’s stellar manufacturing is all of the extra spectacular, contemplating he is routinely double-teamed by opposing offensive linemen. In reality, Quinnen drew a 70% double-team price in 2023 and nonetheless managed to put up a 15% go rush win price, the eighth-highest amongst defensive tackles.
1. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers, 40, is coming off an Achilles tear, which he suffered 4 snaps into his Jets common season debut. The Jets do not want him to return to MVP-caliber kind, but when they are going to snap the longest energetic playoff drought in North American sports activities (13 seasons), they’re going to want Rodgers to be competent and efficient. In any case, the staff nonetheless managed to win seven video games in every of the final two seasons regardless of having a revolving door of awful choices at quarterback.
It is not simple to put expectations on Rodgers, particularly since his final full season, 2022, was thought-about one of many worst of his profession. The four-time MVP threw for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, although it is price noting he performed many of the yr with a damaged thumb. Even when Rodgers’ 2024 manufacturing is just like his 2022 totals, New York would certainly take it, provided that his 2022 output would’ve ranked fifth in Jets single-season historical past in passing yards and third in touchdowns.
With the expertise and management he brings, Rodgers — the profession chief in touchdown-to-interceptions ratio (4.52) — is way more than only a quarterback for New York. When chatting with reporters throughout a July coaching camp observe session, Saleh described Rodgers as “a coach on the sphere” due to how he holds his teammates to his excessive requirements.
So long as he stays wholesome, Rodgers is well-equipped to steer the Jets again to the postseason and even perhaps on a deep playoff run.
