Jets' QB Aaron Rodgers (8) on field at OTAs — © Jonathan Jones-USA TODAY Sports

No. 8 Has Lifted Jets to No. 8 Overall in NFL Rankings

Gang Green tabbed as eighth-most complete team heading into 2023 season

Author:
Ralph Ventre
Publish date:
May 25, 2023 11:04 AM EDT

In this story:

New York Jets' head coach Robert Saleh sounded like he would agree with the latest assessment by NFL writer Eric Edholm.

"I think 32 coaches stand in front of their team every year and talk about winning a championship," said Saleh while addressing reporters prior to a Jets' Phase 3 OTAs practice on May 23. "Realistically, there’s maybe six-to-eight teams that have an actual chance to do it, and I do think we are one of those teams."

One day before Saleh essentially declared the Jets a Super Bowl contender, Edholm ranked Gang Green at No. 8 overall on a list of the "NFL's top 10 most complete teams for 2023 season." The clubs that made the cut were the "ones with the most talent, the best depth and the fewest remaining question marks."

Obviously, general manager Joe Douglas and Co. addressed the team's most-troubling question mark this offseason when they traded for future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The feeling around the organization has been that the Jets were only a quarterback away from being a legitimate contender.

Landing in the "best of the best, top to bottom" category of teams in Edholm's NFL.com article, the Jets earned membership in a group that excluded 2022 Playoffs participants Jacksonville and Miami.

In fact, Saleh's Jets were the lone top—10 team that did not qualify for the postseason last year. The Super Bowl runner-up Philadelphia Eagles earned top billing followed by the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs at No. 2 overall.

No. 6 Buffalo was the only other AFC East member to land on the list.

READ Sports Illustrated Ranks Team Rosters in Jets' Stacked Division

From Edholm:

"The addition of Aaron Rodgers certainly comes with risk, and it's nowhere close to a long-term solution. But for the time being, there's no other reasonable stance than to assume that Rodgers is a significant upgrade over what Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White and Chris Streveler contributed to one of the NFL's lowest-scoring offenses a year ago. That move alone doesn't entirely fix the offense, but there's hope that their lingering issues can be minimized now. ... None of their thinner position groups are huge concerns, although we'd be a bit shocked if the Jets didn't add another defensive tackle -- they signed veterans Al Woods and Quinton Jefferson in free agency but found zero in the draft. They could also add more veteran blood at linebacker, such as reprising Kwon Alexander to run it back next season.

All told, though, general manager Joe Douglas has revamped this roster quite well over the past few years. Now we'll find out if he's finally found the (shorter-term) answer at quarterback that Gang Green's long sought."

Sports Illustrated 2023 projections have been kind to the Jets as well. Matthew Verderame predicted an 11-win season for Gang Green. Amongst teams that improved the most this offseason, the Green & White ranks at No. 2 overall according to Gilberto Manzano.