Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets on a mission to reach expectations one NFL season later

Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets on a mission to reach expectations one NFL season later

The New York Jets were supposed to be one of the last AFC teams standing in 2023, but Aaron Rodgers’ ruptured Achilles in Week 1 of the season ended their year before it had a chance to begin.

Now, with a healthy Rodgers in place and big upgrades along the offensive line and at wide receiver in free agency, the Jets are positioned to make good on those 2023 expectations one year later.

“I think (general manager) Joe (Douglas) has done a really nice job adding some really cool pieces to the football team, but, yeah, quiet,” Saleh said at the Annual League Meeting. “Last year was a little loud. We welcome a little bit of quietness.”

MORE: Grading the New York Jets’ 2024 offseason moves

Indeed, the 2023 offseason was all New York Jets all the time. That’s what happens when Aaron Rodgers arrives in the Big Apple. And while Gang Green hasn’t made that kind of splash this offseason, the roster additions made by general manager Joe Douglas will pay immediate dividends.

In is a new tandem of offensive tackles — Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses — and wide receiver Mike Williams, who’d be many team’s WR1. With Garrett Wilson the returning go-to-guy in New York, Williams becomes an elite No. 2.

Regardless of who’s joined the New York Jets roster this offseason, 2024 will once again depend entirely on Aaron Rodgers’s success (and health).

“Aaron, he’s on a mission,” Saleh said. “He’s doing his rehab. He’s out in California, I believe. Obviously he’s taking some time for himself. He was ready to go last year, man. So I know he’s getting ready. We speak to him often. I don’t want to speak for him, but I am going to speak for him and say that he’s really excited about attacking this season.”