NFL Podcaster Labels New York Jets' Roster 'On the Rise'

Gang Green was lone AFC East member featured on 10-team list

It's becoming the near consensus opinion — the New York Jets have noticeably improved their roster this off-season.

With the results appearing on NFL.com, Marc Sessler, the "Around The NFL" podcast host, identified "which rosters improved the most over the past few months."

The NFL Media contributor selected 10 teams, and Gang Green appeared at the top of the list. The Jets were the lone AFC East team to appear amongst the "rosters on the rise," but all four AFC North squads made the cut.

Of course, it all starts for the Jets at the quarterback position, which is now occupied by four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. No other franchise added a player with a résumé as long as the one the 39-year old Rodgers has built over 18 seasons as a pro.

In order to speed up the transition period associated with bringing in a new quarterback, the Jets added two free-agent receivers — Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb — who know Rodgers and Nathaniel Hackett's offensive scheme well.

In terms of general manager Joe Douglas's overall offseason body of work, Gang Green added multiple important pieces to the mix. 

Two-time Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman left Kansas City to join the Jets' receiving corps while Swiss Army knife Wes Schweitzer provides veteran insurance across the offensive line. At center, the team re-signed 30-year old veteran starter Connor McGovern and selected Wisconsin's Joe Tippmann in Round 2 at the 2023 NFL Draft.

Sessler highlighted the drafting of Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald, who builds upon what was already a "playoff-caliber defense."

The biggest change on Robert Saleh's defense came on the interior defensive line. The Jets signed veterans Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods in what was essentially a swap out as they let Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd walk in free agency.

From "NFL's most improved teams in 2023?":

New York Jets 
2022 record: 7-10

"The subject of giggles for years on end, Gang Green now rests as a legitimate Super Bowl option after nabbing Aaron Rodgers.

General manager Joe Douglas never blinked during the club’s elongated pursuit of the four-time MVP. Perhaps it’s a one-year rental, but Rodgers waltzes into a promising situation. I dig the concept of a revenge-fueled Aa-Rod flinging passes to Garrett Wilson with a back-from-injury Breece Hall rumbling out of the backfield. New York sweetened the pot by adding former Rodgers castmates Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb to the mix. ...

Lost for eons in a thicket of dark chaos, Jets fans today stare at a ready-to-roll roster. What could go wrong?" 

— Marc Sessler 

NFL TV/radio show host Adam Schein made the Jets his pick to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LVIII. Meanwhile, SI Sportsbook lists the Green & White (+1400) as the sixth-leading favorite to win the big game.

Following the 2023 NFL Schedule release, prognostications were kind to the Jets. Sports Illustrated pegged Robert Saleh's crew for an 11-win season. Meanwhile, NFL data expert Cynthia Frelund awarded Gang Green with 9.8 projected victories, the fifth most amongst AFC teams.

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