The New York Jets’ offensive line has been one of the team’s most improved units so far in the 2024 season. After years of underperforming, the Jets added three new starters in Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, and John Simpson. Paired with the development of Joe Tippmann and the return of Alijah Vera-Tucker, the offensive line has been one of the better units in the NFL.
The group needs to improve in the run game, but it is producing some excellent numbers in pass protection. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been pressured on just 24.2% of his dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus, the third-lowest rate among 35 qualified quarterbacks (min. 15 dropbacks).
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This excellence in pass protection is anchored by the Jets’ interior trio of Simpson, Tippmann, and Vera-Tucker. The Jets’ interior offensive linemen have allowed only six pressures this season, tied for the second-fewest among IOL units. Their 1.83% pressure rate allowed is second-best.
The Jets’ two new tackles have struggled more than expected. Smith has allowed the third-most pressures among left tackles with 10, while Moses is tied for the 13th-most allowed among right tackles with 6. They are both below the league average in pressure rate allowed.
The offensive line has benefited from Rodgers’ release time. Rodgers is currently averaging 2.48 seconds to throw, the third-fastest mark in the NFL among qualifiers.
When accounting for Rodgers’ release time, the offensive line’s individual pass-blocking success doesn’t appear quite as elite as Rodgers’ pressure rate suggests, but it is still one of the league’s better pass-blocking units overall. On this leaderboard that combines pass-blocking data from three different sources, the Jets’ offensive line ranks 12th-best.
Pass protection composite ratings pic.twitter.com/Fw9lDkLj47
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) September 25, 2024
Here is where each starter ranks in pressures, sacks, and pressure rate (among players with min. 75 offensive snaps):
LT Tyron Smith
- 2 sacks (T-45th among T)
- 10 pressures (61st)
- 9.17% pressure rate allowed (58th/65)
LG John Simpson
- 0 sacks (T-1st among G)
- 3 pressures (T-11th)
- 2.75% pressure rate allowed (14th/65)
C Joe Tippmann
- 1 sack (T-20th among C)
- 2 pressures (T-4th)
- 1.83% pressure rate allowed (5th/32)
RG Alijah Vera-Tucker
- 1 sack (T-30th)
- 1 pressure (T-2nd)
- 0.92% pressure rate allowed (3rd/65)
RT Morgan Moses
- 0 sacks (T-1st)
- 6 pressures (T-25th)
- 5.83% pressure rate allowed (41st/65)
This Sunday against Denver, 2024 first-round pick Olu Fashanu will have an opportunity to make his mark at right tackle while Moses is out with a knee injury. If the Jets’ tackles can reach an average level in pass protection, the Jets can be one of the best pass-blocking lines in the NFL given how well their interior trio is playing.
To become one of the best overall offensive lines, the whole unit needs to be better in the run game.
Run blocking needs to improve to truly be elite
The Jets are averaging 4.0 yards per rush attempt in 2024, good for 24th in the NFL. While this already isn’t ideal, the advanced metrics indicate the Jets’ run blocking is even worse. Of the 272 rushing yards gained by the Jets’ running backs, 241 came after contact. Overall, the Jets average only 0.46 yards before contact per carry, the third-worst mark in the NFL.
The run-blocking should be expected to improve as the season progresses and players develop chemistry. For now, it remains a work in progress.
Even in Week 3, when the Jets posted a season-high 133 rushing yards against New England, that had a lot more to do with the running skills of their backs than the blocking of the offensive line. Breece Hall and Braelon Allen combined for 109 rushing yards, with 88 of those coming after contact. Both backs forced multiple missed tackles in the backfield to turn potential losses into positive gains.
Nonetheless, for the first time in a long time, the Jets’ offensive line can be viewed as a strength. The pass-blocking looks pristine, and when paired with Aaron Rodgers’ quick release time, it has helped make him one of the least-pressured quarterbacks in the NFL. In the run game, the Jets still have the potential to field one of the better run-blocking units in the league once the players build chemistry. They have shown improvement in this area each week.
Protecting Rodgers was the Jets’ main goal coming into 2024, and they are doing a great job of that so far. New York’s investments in the offensive line are finally paying off.
