© Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com
Jets' Offseason Moves Provide Plenty of Support for Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is with a new team for the first time in 19 NFL seasons and the New York Jets have attempted to make the transition a seamless one.
It started in late January when the team hired a Rodgers favorite, Nathaniel Hackett, as the new offensive coordinator.
Next, general manager Joe Douglas added proven firepower to a weapons cache that already featured reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson and promising running back Breece Hall.
Free-agent additions Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb are reliable receivers who are familiar with both Rodgers and Hackett while Mecole Hardman is a two-time Super Bowl champion with elite speed.
Douglas also tried to reinforce the offensive line charged with protecting Rodgers. The Jets signed former Packer Billy Turner and drafted top center prospect Joe Tippmann at No. 43 overall. The addition of versatile veteran Wes Schweitzer provides insurance, which is vital with such a high injury rate for offensive linemen.
The Jets' moves caught the attention of NFL Network reporter Judy Battista, who featured Gang Green in "Four teams that greatly helped their quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL offseason."
Battista placed the Green & White at No. 1 on the list of teams that greatly helped their quarterback through offseason transactions.
The Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers followed the Jets in the rankings.
"But even the top quarterbacks need help, and the most successful teams do everything they can to surround the signal-caller with weapons and protection," wrote Battista while pointing to Tom Brady and 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a past example.
From "Four teams that greatly helped their quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL offseason":
"Ironically, the Jets were in this exact same spot in the rankings a year ago, because they got so many pieces (receiver Garrett Wilson, running back Breece Hall, guard Laken Tomlinson) to help support Zach Wilson. Alas, please see our disclaimer about this not assuring a Super Bowl run. The Jets pulled off the blockbuster move of this offseason, trading for Aaron Rodgers, and then did everything they could to speed his transition. ... If this doesn't work — if the Jets don't at least make a deep playoff push this season — it won't be for lack of trying."
— Judy Battista
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