When Jets common supervisor Joe Douglas spoke to the media on Thursday, Haason Reddick’s holdout was the principle matter of debate, however Douglas mentioned one thing vital throughout his 19-minute press convention.
“We’re previous the purpose of development,” Douglas mentioned of the 2024 Jets. “I really feel like this can be a group that is able to win.”
That won’t seem to be a giant deal, however for a very long time the Jets have been afraid to truly speak about successful. There was loads of speak about enchancment and development coming into seasons lately and never a lot about really successful.
However these Jets are coming into the 2024 season with confidence and expectations, two issues which have been briefly provide during the last decade. In case you speak to gamers, they’ll inform you they assume that is the perfect group they’ve ever been on. Each privately and publicly, there was a whole lot of confidence expressed on this group. You must return over a decade to discover a Jets roster that compares to this one.
So, how ought to the 2024 Jets outline success? Making the playoffs appears like the ground for expectations. Is it sufficient to finish the 13-year playoff drought? Do the Jets need to win a playoff recreation? Have they got to make the Tremendous Bowl? Win the Tremendous Bowl?
Everybody across the Jets is aware of what’s using on this season. Douglas and coach Robert Saleh probably might be fired if issues don’t go properly. If the Aaron Rodgers experiment bombs, Rodgers will both be retired in 2025 or chasing a title someplace else.
Whereas that half is simple to outline, what qualifies as a profitable season just isn’t as straightforward.
To me, making the playoffs might be a profitable 12 months for the Jets. I don’t care what it seems like. If they’re 10-7 and win within the final week to get in, that’s nice. In the event that they get bounced within the first spherical, once more I believe that could be a optimistic step for a franchise that has had extra teaching searches in January than playoff video games lately.
I additionally assume that could be the primary hurdle to clear on the way in which to larger issues in 2025. It isn’t straightforward to go from also-ran to the Tremendous Bowl in a single 12 months. In case you have a look at the final 10 Tremendous Bowls and the 20 groups that performed in them, solely 5 groups went from lacking the playoffs to showing within the Tremendous Bowl the next season and solely two of these groups really lifted the Lombardi Trophy.
Essentially the most hopeful comparability for the Jets might be the 2020 Buccaneers, who went from 7-9 in 2019 to successful all of it the next 12 months, when Tom Brady modified the equation for them. Regardless that Rodgers has technically been a Jet for 16 months, it appears like he’s a brand new addition after lacking all however 4 snaps final 12 months.
Rodgers has regarded spectacular throughout coaching camp. That’s not a assure he’ll put collectively an enormous season, nevertheless it does present motive to hope in case you are the Jets.
An argument could be made that even when the Jets make the playoffs and lose there, this season is a failure. Rodgers turns 41 years outdated in December. Father Time goes to catch as much as him in some unspecified time in the future. Key gamers Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, Mike Williams, D.J. Reed, Tyler Conklin and Michael Carter II are all within the ultimate 12 months of their contracts.
I get that viewpoint, however I believe if the Jets put collectively a profitable season, proprietor Woody Johnson will give Douglas the inexperienced gentle to deliver a lot of these gamers again and spend cash to enhance the roster in 2025.
When attempting to judge what success seems like this 12 months, one variable we don’t know is how the season will unfold. How a season is considered is commonly not outlined till the way it ends. A late-season collapse tends to make it really feel like a failure, even in the event you make the playoffs. Simply ask the 2023 Eagles. If a group goes on a successful streak in December to make the playoffs, it usually appears like one thing to construct on even when it loses within the postseason. If these Jets begin off 5-5 after which win six of their ultimate seven video games, there might be a whole lot of speak about constructing one thing for 2025 even when they get bounced within the divisional spherical.
We gained’t know precisely what success seems like for the 2024 Jets till we see how the season performs out. Expectations have lastly arrived at One Jets Drive. Now, we’ll see if they’ll dwell as much as them.
The Jets signed huge receiver Jason Brownlee to the follow squad on Friday, two days after they waived him.
Brownlee had 5 catches for 56 yards and one landing as a rookie final season.
Extensive receiver Lance McCutcheon was launched from the follow squad to clear the spot for Brownlee.
