Projecting AFC East records for the 2024 season
By Rhys Knott
Jets record: 9-8
Many question marks are hanging over the Jets again in 2024. Under Robert Saleh, it seems incredibly likely that they will have one of the strongest defenses in the league again. Nathaniel Hackett’s offense, on the other hand, will remain a mystery until the season begins.
After the MetLife turf monster saw off Aaron Rodgers after just four snaps in the 2023 season, the Jets' campaign was thrown into turmoil. A fleeting glimpse at their 2024 depth chart suggests that should anything happen to their soon-to-be 41-year-old quarterback, they’ll have to rely on Tyrod Taylor to guide them to the playoffs this time out.
“T-Mobile,” as he likes to be called, hasn’t seen the postseason since 2017, so Gang Green has crossed their fingers and toes for Pat McAfee’s BFF.
The Jets did make one of the best picks at the 2024 draft when they snagged Olu Fashanu from Penn State. But they had already signed Tyron Smith to play left tackle. The 33-year-old former Cowboy could be as much of an injury concern as Rodgers, especially on the treacherous MetLife field.
In total, the Jets brought in five new faces during free agency, but (according to Spotrac) they also bolstered their ranks with 23 undrafted free agents! After trading away 14 draft picks, they only selected seven players in Detroit.
They drafted someone who can help Garrett Wilson in the passing game in Malachi Corley. Western Kentucky product Corley racked up 3,127 total offensive yards during his college career and scored 22 touchdowns in his last two seasons!
They also acquired some extra depth for the run game in the shape of Braelon Allen. That should help them balance their offense after they only ran the ball 37% of the time in 2023! Although playing from behind so often didn't help that either.
That strangeness, combined with their willingness to run it back with the same coaching team, who have only won 18 games since 2021, and their reliance on expensive veteran players, suggests the Jets' front office is a den of chaos.
In 2023, the Jets followed up a three-game losing streak with a five-game losing streak four weeks later. They then proceeded to alternate wins and losses for the final five weeks of the season. The 2023 Jets were a mirror image of the 2023 Patriots, as their offensive superstar’s early injury put the kibosh on their hopes.
They’re bound to improve in 2024 unless something equally miserable happens. But the division figures to be absolutely brutal. If they’re lucky, they could contend for a Wildcard spot, but if they’re not, they’ll be just as inconsistent on the field as in the front office.