Our 2022 NFL Preview stays in the Empire State, where the Jets look to finally take flight in the second year of, yet another rebuild. A miserable 27-70 (.278) since 2016, this is a franchise desperately trying to turn the page to a new successful era, as (Head Coach) Robert Saleh looks to build upon a tough first season in New York where there were few signs of life. Coming into year two, will (Quarterback) Zach Wilson make the necessary developmental leap? Will the offense take shape? What can we expect from this year’s sizable draft class? Let’s take a stroll through Gotham City, shall we?
Growing Pains… Part One
For the second time in four years, the Jets decided to hit the reset button at Quarterback, moving on from (2018 third overall pick) Sam Darnold after three very disappointing seasons, and choosing Zach Wilson (pictured) with the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to replace him. Athletic, mobile, and possessing a strong arm, the potential of the BYU product is high, as (General Manager) Joe Douglas and the aforementioned Saleh hope to avoid the same mistakes that the previous regime made with his predecessor in the pocket. Injuries and a dearth of talent in the supporting cast seriously stunted the growth of Darnold, and the hope is that a more modern system coupled with an injection of youthful talent at the skill positions will facilitate the growth of Wilson, who endured a difficult rookie campaign by just about every metric. In thirteen starts, the 23-year-old completed just 55.6% of his passes for an average of 179.5 yards on 4.60 net yards per attempt, with nine touchdowns in comparison to eleven interceptions and a QBR of 28.2 en route to leading Gang Green to a 3-10 record. Though he exhibited an innate ability to improvise and make plays off-script, Wilson struggled to find his footing within (Offensive Coordinator) Mike LaFleur’s West Coast scheme, which places a heavy emphasis on timing and precision. The coaching staff believes that with another offseason under his belt and a greater command of the playbook, a significant leap as a sophomore should be expected. Unfortunately, injury has already threatened to derail that development; in their preseason opener against the Eagles, the Jets saw their young Quarterback bite the dust escaping the rush on a non-contact play, clutching his knee in pain. The diagnosis revealed a bone bruise and torn meniscus with an expected timetable to return of two to four weeks, meaning that he will in all likelihood be out of action for the regular season opener at Baltimore. While there is a sense that the franchise dodged a serious bullet, it remains to be seen just what kind of an impact that this will have on Gang Green moving forward. Will missing the rest of the preseason be a detriment to Wilson’s development? Will Saleh manage to resist the urge to bring him back too early if they get off to a slow start? With Wilson on the mend, the offense should be in good hands as (veteran Quarterback) Joe Flacco assumes the starting role for New York; 98-78 as a starter, the former Super Bowl MVP has a wealth of experience but has made just thirteen starts since losing job in Baltimore midway through the 2018 campaign. Though the malady to Wilson appears to be minor, an injury to one of the most significant members of his supporting cast could prove to be potentially disastrous…
Growing Pains… Part Two
Prior to selecting Wilson second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, the aforementioned Douglas felt good about his team’s ability to protect the young passer after investing heavily in his protection in 2020. New York drafted (Left Tackle) Mekhi Becton (pictured) eleventh overall out of Louisville, with designs on making the mammoth Lineman a fixture in the trenches for years to come. At 6′-7″ and over 360 pounds, the big fella has all the physical tools to dominate on the left flank but has unfortunately struggled to stay in the requisite condition to perform at a high level in the NFL. After starting thirteen games as a rookie, Becton suffered cartilage damage in his knee during last year’s season opener, and never returned from injured reserve, which played no small role in Wilson being sacked forty-four times for a league-worst 370 lost yards. Saleh has gone on record stating that the blindside protector has “transcendent” physical ability, but that means little when combined with weight and durability concerns. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be long before these injury woes would plague the 23-year-old again; Becton suffered an avulsion fracture to his right kneecap in early August, with reports that his season is already lost. Needless to say, this is a BIG issue for the Jets, who will now turn to (veterans) George Fant and the newly acquired Duane Brown to ensure that their Quarterback remains upright and clean. However, at 37-years-old, it remains to be seen how much Brown has left in the tank at this point of his career, while Fant is viewed as much better option on the right flank than the left. In the end, this is far from an ideal situation to be when your team’s fortunes are hinging on a young Quarterback making a sizable leap in his development
Youth Movement
With all this doom and gloom over the injuries to Wilson and Becton, if there is something to look forward to in the Big Apple, then it’s easily the future of the franchise. Saleh and Douglas have no illusions of this project being anything other than a lengthy and arduous one, and they’ve been doing everything in their power to ensure that proverbial cupboard is stocked with talent. In the 2021 NFL Draft, they maneuvered their way into making a whopping ten selections, including three within the first thirty-four picks. This past spring, they enjoyed all seven of their selections in the first four rounds, including THREE in the first. By our math, that is FIVE first round picks in two years, which is a dream scenario for any brain trust looking to rebuild a franchise. Last season, New York added Wilson and (Guard) Alijah Vera-Tucker to the fold, and this year they addressed many of their other weaknesses in the form of (Cornerback) Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (4th Overall), (Receiver) Garrett Wilson (10th Overall), and (Edge-Rusher) Jermaine Johnson II (26th Overall). Though he wasn’t the first at his position off the board, Gardner (pictured) was viewed almost unanimously as the top Defensive Back in the class, while Wilson stood out as one of the most complete pass-catchers in another loaded group of prospects. As for Johnson, the athletic Defensive End traveled quite a bit in college, but tested VERY well at the scouting combine, and is expected to find an early role as a situational pass-rusher in a scheme in which Saleh favors rotating his Linemen frequently. However, the rest of the draft class appears to have brought more value to boot, with (Tailback) Breece Hall being tabbed early in the second round to provide competition in the Backfield. Rushing for a school record 3,941 yards and fifty touchdowns in three years at Iowa State, Hall will compete with (Sophomore) Michael Carter for the primary role, with his patience in setting up his blockers likely spelling early success. If each of these youngsters can manage to make a positive impact this season, then New York should finally find their way out of the proverbial wilderness.
Projected Finish: 6-11
At this point we should all be well-acquainted with the Jets and their various rebuilding projects, and after watching the last decade of football in the Big Apple, there isn’t much confidence that this latest rebuild will unfold any different than its predecessors. However, there is a sense of tepid optimism that Saleh and Douglas have Gang Green pointing in the right direction, for you can see their vision starting to unfold with all of the draft picks made over the past two years. If these youngsters can hit the ground running and the team can survive the early season absence of Wilson and the long-term absence of Becton, then the Jets should be an improved side, but in a particularly loaded AFC, it’s likely going to be another year before they begin to reap the rewards of their labor.
