Which Jets' Offensive Playmakers Joined '2023 NFL Superstar Club'?
The New York Jets' new-look offense boasts two high-level playmakers at their respective positions.
The aerial connection between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and second-year receiver Garrett Wilson already exudes significant star power and their first season together has yet to begin.
When it comes to their status amongst the NFL's most-talented performers, Rodgers and Wilson received high marks from analyst Dan Hanzus, who hosts the Around The NFL Podcast.
Both men appeared in Hanzus's "2023 NFL Superstar Club: Jalen Hurts, CeeDee Lamb join; Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott drop out" on NFL.com.
With the focus "on playmakers on the offensive side of the ball," the article named seven quarterbacks, four running backs, 10 wide receivers, one tight end and one kicker as members of the "2023 NFL Superstar Club."
Rodgers made the list of signal callers while Wilson just missed the cut for the top tier amongst receivers. Hanzus highlighted the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as a "close call."
The article did not mention any Jets amongst the running backs, tight ends or kickers. Second-year ball carrier Breece Hall is certainly a candidate to eventually break onto the list, but he needs to prove he's fully back from the ACL tear he suffered in Week 7 last year. Not to mention, his NFL sample size is too small to justify current consideration.
Rodgers's resume warrants superstar status even at 39 years old. He is only one full season removed from his fourth career NFL MVP award and the former Super Bowl champion's 26 touchdown passes were seventh most on the circuit in 2022.
"It's a crazy feeling knowing that we got a Hall-of-Fame quarterback that's going to be playing for us this year," said Jets' veteran cornerback D.J. Reed during voluntary springtime OTAs.
The 2023 campaign could be an historic one for Rodgers, who ranks fifth overall on the league's all-time passing touchdowns list. With 475 regular season scoring strikes to his credit, the Jets' starting signal caller could chase down Brett Favre for fourth place all-time.
Rodgers has reached the 30-touchdown mark on eight occasions during his career. The Jets have had only one such season in franchise history. At some point in the first third of the season, Rodgers (59,055) is likely to become the ninth 60,000-yard passer in NFL annals.
When it comes to his WR1 this season, Rodgers will have a target that boasts superstar potential. As a rookie, Wilson accounted for the Jets' fifth-highest single-season receiving yards (1,103) total since the turn of the millennium.
Wilson has shown the ability to run every type of route effectively against NFL defenses. He combines sub-4.4 40-yard dash speed with lateral quickness while gaining yards after the catch.
The young receiver's ability "out of the break" was immediately noticeable to Rodgers.
"There’s another 17 [Davante Adams] I played with for a long time who does it better than anybody. The explosiveness, in and out of breaks, to the 17 here, is pretty similar,” said Rodgers during a Pat McAfee Show appearance.
Jets' offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett highlighted Wilson's "body control" while speaking at his OTAs press conference.
"I think his ability to get up on defenders and move them and then even when the ball might not be perfectly placed, be able to torque his body into different positions, it’s something that’s very special. He’s talented that way," said Hackett, who spent three seasons with Rodgers and Adams in Green Bay.
Excerpts from "2023 NFL Superstar Club":
Hanzus's Seven 'NFL Superstar' Quarterbacks:
- Josh Allen
- Joe Burrow
- Justin Herbert
- Jalen Hurts
- Lamar Jackson
- Patrick Mahomes
- Aaron Rodgers
"Has there ever been a better crop of young passers in the league at the same time? With the exception of Aaron Rodgers, every quarterback here will enter the 2023 NFL season at age 27 or younger. The Magnificent Seven have accumulated seven league MVP awards, three Super Bowl wins and five conference titles. The only man here who gave me any level of pause was the wily vet Rodgers, who has four of those MVPs but is also coming off a down season by his standards and will be a few months shy of his 40th birthday when he takes his first snap for the Jets. In truth, it wasn't much of a pause at all. Everyone on this list could end up in the Hall of Fame one day."
QB Aaron Rodgers at Jets' OTAs
Hanzus's 10 'NFL Superstar' Receivers:
- Davante Adams
- A.J. Brown
- Ja'Marr Chase
- Stefon Diggs
- Tyreek Hill
- Justin Jefferson
- Cooper Kupp
- CeeDee Lamb
- DK Metcalf
- Deebo Samuel
"Close Calls? I am incredibly bullish on Garrett Wilson, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year who was a consistent playmaking force despite dealing with one of the worst quarterback setups in football in 2022. With Aaron Rodgers now flicking spirals for the Jets, Wilson has everything in place to make the leap into the rarefied air of the Superstar Club."
Jets' WR Garrett Wilson runs a route at OTAs
© Jonathan Jones-USA TODAY Sports
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