PFF Rankings: Do Jets Have Top-5 Offensive Line?
Last season, the New York Jets' offensive line was one of the worst in football, giving up the fourth-most sacks (65). It didn't matter who the quarterback was, the Jets simply couldn't protect anyone.
Let's not forget that Aaron Rodgers ran for his life on all four plays in Week 1 of last season before an Achilles injury ended his season.
So the Jets went about fixing Rodgers' protection. In free agency, future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith and Baltimore Ravens pair John Simpson and Morgan Moses (traded for) were signed, strengthening both tackle spots and the interior. Not to mention the drafting of Olu Fashanu in the first round and the return of right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker from injury.
But for all of those moves, where does the Jets' new offensive line rank among the league's best? According to PFF, who ranked all 32 teams, New York comes in at No. 4.
"After performing as one of the worst units of the 2023 season, the Jets' offensive line mightily improved this offseason," PFF wrote. "Veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses both finished among the 10 highest-graded offensive tackles in 2023 and could form one of the best duos in the league in 2024. The Jets also get back one of the best young guards in the league, Alijah Vera-Tucker, who missed most of the 2023 season due to an injury."
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Job done for the Jets front office.
According to PFF, Rodgers has one of the best offensive lines in football, so one would imagine that he will stay rather clean in the pocket.
Given the weapons at his disposal in the run and pass game, the Jets offense could be one of the best in football...if everyone stays healthy. That is perhaps the biggest concern heading into the new season.
How will Rodgers, Mike Williams, Tyron Smith, etc. fare when all the eggs are in their basket? Granted, New York did a far better job this offseason of planning for a worst-case scenario with Tyrod Taylor and Fashanu coming in, so at least the Jets were proactive.
Everything is lined up for Rodgers to take the Jets back to the playoffs in his second season with the franchise and he will have one of the best offensive lines leading the way.