Last year was lackluster and underwhelming for the Jets. The offense was inept and the defense was the worst in the NFL culminating in a dismal showing of 4 wins and 13 losses. It’s been a trend of the last decade that has only seen one winning season since 2011. Despite their shortcomings in the 2021/22 campaign, there are signs that things are turning around in New Jersey. Towards the backend of the season, the Jets went toe-to-toe with some of the top sides in the league and were unlucky to only walk away with one win from their last four for their efforts. They followed up the string of positive performances by making a splash in April in the first round of the draft, significantly improving the talent and depth of their roster for the upcoming season. They have bolstered their ranks with some seriously good players and with Zach Wilson showing clear progress at the end of his rookie year there is finally some reason to be excited for Jets fans. The question is will all this optimism translate into a winning season in this pivotal time for Gang Green.
Who will be the main men for the Jets?
The Jets are one of the least likely teams to reach the grand finale of the NFL season as they currently are +20000 to achieve a shock Super Bowl victory according to New York betting sites. So with the Lombardi trophy a distant dream, what can the Jets hope to accomplish in their rebuild this year? Well, in selecting talented cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardener, and Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson in the first 10 picks, the franchise is hoping to have added a couple of offensive and defensive anchors for years to come. A true lockdown cornerback, Gardner remarkably never allowed a receiving touchdown in coverage during his three-year stay with the Bearcats. Gardner is coming off a statistically stellar junior campaign in which he racked up 40 tackles and three sacks en route to being voted a first-team AP All-American. Brimming with natural talent, Gardner knows how to use his length well, but also possesses stellar flexibility for a player of his size and his awareness is exceptional that combines for a great all-round package.
As for Wilson, the Buckeyes standout was seen by many to be the top wide receiver in a loaded 2022 class. The wideout will be looked on to help the growth and production of second-season quarterback Zach Wilson. He starred at Ohio State as a second-team All-American in 2021, tying for eighth in the FBS and second in the Big Ten with 12 receiving touchdowns. His route-running and run-after-catch ability should help him transition to the NFL quickly and make an early impact for the Jets.
The organization also took defensive end Jermaine Johnson II with the 26th pick and talented tailback Breece Hall early in the second round of the NFL Draft. Johnson is a prototypical pass rusher with ideal size and speed to make it big in the NFL. Johnson found his way in his lone season at Florida State, and it propelled him into becoming a first-round selection. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year had eight sacks in two years at Georgia before transferring to Florida State where he developed his pass-rushing, making him a great pickup for the Jets.
Hall meanwhile has been one of the most consistent, productive backs in college football the last two seasons. He was a consensus first-team All-America and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021, rushing for 3,044 yards and 41 touchdowns. He also had 59 receptions, 482 yards and 5 TDs. Hall left the Cyclones owning 11 school records and set an FBS record with a rushing touchdown in 24 consecutive games. If the Jets are to go far in this campaign it will likely be down to the exploits of these top-tier picks.
Zach Wilson needs to step up
There is no doubt about it, after a very successful draft, the Jets have put Zach Wilson in a position to succeed. The offensive line looks better and there is depth at receiver, tight end and running back. Wilson is getting rave reviews this offseason for his work in the weight room, his leadership and his understanding of the offense. If Wilson hits big in year two, the Jets will surely follow suit. Wilson didn't look good last season. The Jets had to play four quarterbacks last season. Joe Flacco and Josh Johnson are at the journeyman stages of their careers. Mike White sent people scrambling to look up who he was. All three played better than Zach Wilson, the second pick of last year's draft. But he unquestionably has the ability to turn it around from his rookie season. The talent around him is good and should see the Jets finally starting to make positive strides forward. He was inaccurate and had struggles playing from the pocket and whilst his physical talent is obvious he'll have to show strides playing within a structure and with his accuracy if he is to become a franchise QB. All the positivity of the draft means little if 2021 second-overall pick Zach Wilson is a bust at quarterback, and there were some scary signs from his rookie season. The Jets have put a deep receiver group, better running game and hopefully improved offensive line around Wilson. Now it's on him to show results and take the Jets from perennial losers to a team that can compete with the elite. If everything goes right for the Jets, it's possible they could put together a stunning run to get into postseason contention. But a tough early-season schedule for a team that's still figuring each other out might end up being too much to overcome. They will have to hit the ground running if there is any hope of reaching the playoffs but even if they fall short of that lofty target, the Jets can use this season to take a big step in the right direction and build hopes of smashing the league’s longest postseason drought.