New York Jets 2024 season preview: Take two, but better

New York Jets, take two.

All the hopes and dreams of multiple generations of Jets fans rested on Aaron Rodgers’ shoulders. For four snaps.

Looking at the Jets’ current roster, though, it’s hard to believe in hindsight that many thought they were Super Bowl contenders to start last season. There were critical holes along the offensive line that likely would have sunk the team even with Rodgers. The receiving corps left much to be desired, as well.

Joe Douglas set out to change that in 2024. He brought in three new offensive linemen, a legitimate No. 2 receiver, and an intriguing rookie.

Now, this roster does appear championship-worthy. But the quarterback is coming off a torn Achilles.

Will they reach their potential this season?

Additions

• QB Tyrod Taylor
• QB Jordan Travis (Reserve/Non-Football Injury)
• RB Braelon Allen
• RB Isaiah Davis
• WR Mike Williams
• WR Malachi Corley
• TE Brenden Bates
• OT Tyron Smith
• OT Morgan Moses
• OT Olu Fashanu
• IOL John Simpson
• EDGE Haason Reddick (Reserve/Did Not Report)
• EDGE Takk McKinley
• EDGE Braiden McGregor
• EDGE Eric Watts
• IDL Javon Kinlaw
• IDL Leki Fotu (Injured Reserve)
• IDL Leonard Taylor III
• CB Qwan’tez Stiggers
• S Isaiah Oliver

Subtractions

• QB Zach Wilson
• QB Tim Boyle (mid-season release)
• QB Trevor Siemian
• RB Michael Carter (mid-season release)
• RB Dalvin Cook (mid-season release)
• FB Nick Bawden
• WR Randall Cobb
• WR Mecole Hardman (mid-season trade)
• TE C.J. Uzomah
• OT Mekhi Becton
• OT Duane Brown
• OT Chris Glaser
• IOL Connor McGovern
• IOL Laken Tomlinson
• OL Billy Turner
• EDGE John Franklin-Myers
• EDGE Bryce Huff
• EDGE Carl Lawson
• IDL Quinton Jefferson
• IDL Al Woods
• IDL Tanzel Smart
• CB Bryce Hall
• S Adrian Amos (mid-season release)
• S Jordan Whitehead
• ST Justin Hardee

Depth chart

Offense (25)

• QB (2): Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor (NFI: Jordan Travis)
• RB (4): Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis (KR/PR), Israel Abanikanda
• WR (6): Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson (KR/PR), Malachi Corley (KR), Irvin Charles
• TE (3): Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Brenden Bates (IR: Kenny Yeboah)
• OT (5): Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, Olu Fashanu, Max Mitchell, Carter Warren
• IOL (5): John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Wes Schweitzer, Xavier Newman

Defense (25)

• EDGE (6): Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, Micheal Clemons, Takk McKinley, Braiden McGregor, Eric Watts (DNR: Haason Reddick)
• IDL (4): Quinnen Williams, Javon Kinlaw, Solomon Thomas, Leonard Taylor III (IR: Leki Fotu)
• LB (5): C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Chazz Surratt, Zaire Barnes
• CB (6): Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Brandin Echols, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Qwan’tez Stiggers
• S (4): Chuck Clark, Tony Adams, Ashtyn Davis, Isaiah Oliver

Special teams (3)

• K (1): Greg Zuerlein
• P (1): Thomas Morstead
• LS (1): Thomas Hennessy

Practice squad (17)

• QB Adrian Martinez
• RB Xazavian Valladay
• WR Jason Brownlee
• WR Brandon Smith
• TE Anthony Firkser
• TE Zack Kuntz
• OL Obinna Eze
• IOL Kohl Levao
• IOL Jake Hanson
• DL Jalyn Holmes
• IDL Bruce Hector
• LB Sam Eguavoen
• LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
• DB Tre Swilling
• S Jaylen Key
• S Jarius Monroe

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Robert Saleh
• Offensive coordinator: Nathaniel Hackett
• Defensive coordinator: Jeff Ulbrich
• Special teams coordinator: Brant Boyer

Roster notes and comments

• The Jets have tremendous turnover on the offensive line, as four of their five Week 1 starters from 2023 are no longer with the team. The change appears to be much for the better, especially with All-Pro Tyron Smith taking over at left tackle.
• Haason Reddick will remain on the exempt list until he reports and will not count toward the 53-man roster.
• With Reddick out, Micheal Clemons may get the bulk of the work in the Jets’ base personnel. It’s hard to know how that playing time translates, as the Jets played their nickel package over 80% of the time in 2024. How they divide up that playing time also remains to be seen. One of Eric Watts or Braiden McGregor will likely be inactive regularly.
• With Irvin Charles playing special teams exclusively, the Jets have only five pass-catching receivers on their roster. That’s a gamble for a team with the injury-prone Mike Williams as its WR2.
• In 2022-23, the Jets’ No. 5 cornerback, Bryce Hall, was a healthy scratch 20 times. Though the Jets have six cornerbacks on their 53-man roster, at least one will likely be the odd man out on game days. Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Qwan’tez Stiggers are battling for the CB5 spot.
• There are 17 practice squad players (instead of the normal 16) due to Obinna Eze, an international pathway addition.
• Israel Abanikanda’s strong preseason performance may have won him a roster spot, but he’s unlikely to be active on gamedays.
• There is no fullback on the roster, which means Jeremy Ruckert and/or Brenden Bates may line up there at times.

Jets 2024 season predictions

Game-by-game results

1. at San Francisco 49ers (MNF): Loss (0-1)
2. at Tennessee Titans: Win (1-1)
3. vs. New England Patriots (TNF): Win (2-1)
4. vs. Denver Broncos: Win (3-1)
5. vs. Minnesota Vikings (London): Loss (3-2)
6. vs. Buffalo Bills (MNF): Win (4-2)
7. at Pittsburgh Steelers: Win (5-2)
8. at New England Patriots: Win (6-2)
9. vs. Houston Texans (TNF): Win (7-2)
10. at Arizona Cardinals: Win (8-2)
11. vs. Indianapolis Colts (SNF): Win (9-2)
12. vs. Seattle Seahawks: Win (10-2)
13. at Miami Dolphins: Loss (10-3)
14. at Jacksonville Jaguars: Loss (10-4)
15. vs. Los Angeles Rams: Win (11-4)
16. at Buffalo Bills: Loss (11-5)
17. vs. Miami Dolphins: Win (12-5)

Final record: 12-5

I made my record prediction before breaking down the schedule. It was a struggle for me to find five games I think they will lose. I maintain my conviction that they will beat the Texans and go 4-2 in the AFC East. Is there another legitimately difficult game on their schedule besides San Francisco in Week 1? There’s a reason the Jets are favored in 14 of 17 games this season.

I threw in an unconscionable loss against Sam Darnold’s Vikings (due to the London jet lag) and a surprising defeat in Jacksonville. That covers the five losses.

My game-by-game predictions might not stand up. If Aaron Rodgers stays reasonably healthy, though, I believe they will finish with a 12-5 record and win the division.

Jets X-Factor staff 2024 season predictions

Comments

The New York Jets should be the AFC East favorite, and they should come away with the division, but I’m slow to jump on it until further notice. Until Robert Saleh and the coaching staff prove they have what it takes on a week-to-week game-planning basis, I’ll stick with the best player in the division, Josh Allen. As long as they make the tournament, however, anything can happen. For now, I’ll choose Joe Burrow finally completing his mission of winning a Super Bowl. – Robby Sabo

The Jets finally get the monkey off their backs. Breece Hall breaks out with a 2,000-scrimmage-yard season, taking the pressure off Aaron Rodgers. Garrett Wilson gains 1,450 receiving yards. The
Jets win the AFC East with a 12-5 record. They knock off the Dolphins in the first round, as Tua Tagovailoa melts down at MetLife. They then squeak out a victory at home against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. In the AFC Championship, they make Patrick Mahomes look mortal as they did in 2023, forcing two turnovers and going to the Super Bowl. In the Super Bowl, the Jets lock down the Lions’ high-flying offense and pull out their first championship in 56 years. – Rivka Boord

If not now, then when? The Jets have the roster to compete in 2024, yes. But they need the luck of injuries and things breaking their way. I predict that, at long last, it is finally New York’s year. Rodgers, Smith, and the rest of the offense stay healthy and put up arguably the best year on that side of the ball in team history. The defense, even with Reed and Mosley slowing down a hair, is still one of the best units in the league with Sherwood and the CB depth stepping up. Reddick starts slow, but ends up being the necessary closer down the stretch. In the playoffs, the pedigree of Aaron Rodgers truly shines. He leads New York through the AFC gauntlet, including an instant classic against the Kansas City Chiefs. And staring down an old foe in the Detroit Lions in the Super Bowl, Rodgers rips their hearts out one last time and rides off into retirement as the QB who brought the Lombardi back to the Big Apple. – Brandyn Pokrass

While the team is fully capable of pulling it off, I am too hesitant to come out and predict a Super Bowl victory (what credibility does that have coming from a Jets writer?) – although I would be lying if I said I don’t have a feeling it will happen. What I can say with total conviction is that this team will win the AFC East, win at least 12 regular season games, and win at least one playoff game. No longer do Jets fans have to do mental gymnastics to convince themselves why their team will succeed. This team is… really good. Period. – Michael Nania

Keys to the 2024 season

• Health: This is largely out of the Jets’ control, but they bank their hopes on several aging and/or injury-prone players. Aaron Rodgers is the most obvious, but Tyron Smith, Mike Williams, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Morgan Moses are players to monitor. With the Jets’ depth at wide receiver, edge rusher, and defensive tackle compromised, an injury to a key player in any of those rooms could be catastrophic. The Jets have had miserable injury luck over the past two seasons, but it’s not just bad luck when the injuries were likely in the first place.
• Rodgers looking like a Pro Bowler: The Jets can likely make the playoffs with the 2022 version of Rodgers, which was mostly mediocre statistically. But to win a Super Bowl, they’ll probably need him to play at a Pro Bowl level, at least. Rodgers reportedly looked like he still has plenty of juice left during training camp, but until we see it in regular season games, the ability of an almost 41-year-old passer coming off an Achilles tear to maintain a top-tier level of play is certainly a question mark.
• Run, run, run: Breece Hall has shown off some of his elite skills through his first two seasons, but injuries and atrocious blocking have prevented him from breaking out. If the Jets want to go far this season, they’ll need another gear from Hall. This will help keep Rodgers fresh and wear opponents down. Bringing in Braelon Allen for a change of pace should hammer the defense even further.
• Another pass-catching producer: Garrett Wilson is a top No. 1 receiver, but after that, the Jets have many unknowns in their receiving corps. Someone else will need to step up. If Mike Williams can stay healthy and play like a good WR2, even if not the top one he used to be, the Jets’ receiving corps should be fine. If, however, he slows down or gets hurt again, the Jets will need Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, and Malachi Corley to step up. The possibility of trading for Davante Adams still looms, but there are no guarantees. Even if Tyler Conklin finally flashes the potential Jets X-Factor analysts have long seen in him, he’s not enough to carry the rest of the passing game.
• Pass rush: Even with Haason Reddick, the Jets’ edge depth looks a lot thinner than last year’s unit. Without Reddick, it’s Jermaine Johnson and a bunch of unknowns (plus a known poor pass rusher in Micheal Clemons). On the interior, they lost Quinton Jefferson, who formed a lethal duo with Quinnen Williams, and replaced him with Javon Kinlaw, who has been a lesser player thus far in his career. The Jets have ranked in the top five in pressure rate in back-to-back seasons. Being able to pressure the quarterback without blitzing is one of the core tenets of their defense. Can they keep it up in 2024?
• Beat the East: Other than the 49ers, most of the Jets’ out-of-division games look winnable. Beating their own division is the first order of business, though. It’s time to finally sweep the Patriots. The Jets must, at minimum, win two of four games against Buffalo and Miami, but they should go at least 3-1 if they’re truly going to be a Super Bowl contender. Miami blew them out twice last year, making this a tall order.

NFL league-wide predictions

Some NFL stories we’re following

Can the Chiefs three-peat? To an extent, if you look at the performances throughout the regular season and the playoffs, it was surprising the Chiefs won their second consecutive Super Bowl. Their defense carried them through most of it, as a weak receiving corps suppressed Patrick Mahomes’ yearly MVP magic. If Kansas City won it all despite that, though, who can stop them? The additions of speedsters Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy should unlock their deep passing game. The Chiefs are rightfully the Super Bowl favorites.

San Francisco’s all-in year. The 49ers’ contract struggles during the offseason symbolized a burgeoning reality: they cannot keep all their star players together much longer. George Kittle and Deebo Samuel have no more guaranteed money on their deals after this season, which means neither may be with the team in 2025. They will also need to pay Brock Purdy after the season. That makes 2024 a pivotal year for Kyle Shanahan & Co. They’re the favorites to win the NFC again, but can they make it through and beat their kryptonite, the Chiefs?

Injured QBs make their return. Aaron Rodgers isn’t the only big-name quarterback coming off a season-ending injury. Joe Burrow’s wrist issue isn’t on the same level as Rodgers’ or Kirk Cousins’ Achilles tears, and Burrow is also a lot younger than the other two. Then you have one of the NFL’s most polarizing quarterbacks in Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, who missed all but four games of his rookie season with a shoulder injury. The race for Comeback Player of the Year should be quite interesting.

Who will be this year’s Texans? To many, the Texans have already ascended to Super Bowl contender status. Which team will come out of nowhere to succeed this year? The Bears are the most popular pick, but there are significant holes in their offensive line and defense. The Cardinals’ offense looks poised to take a leap, but their defense may be the worst in the NFL. The Falcons don’t really count because they signed a proven quarterback.