Good morning, Gang Green Nation. I hope you’re all having a great start to the day. While the New York Jets signing Tyron Smith has been considered a major boost to their offensive line, there is a potential reason to be wary of the signing itself. Per Smith, only the Jets and his former team, the Dallas Cowboys were in consideration for his services. When Dallas informed him that they would not be reaching out to re-sign the left tackle, Smith chose the Jets.
While a healthy Smith is one of the best tackles in the NFL, it’s a bit concerning that no other NFL team had interest in Smith. Either the Jets will look like geniuses for giving him a chance, or like fools if an injury wipes him out for another season. Only time will tell. With that, here are your links to the Jets to start your morning.
Bryan Perez – Grading the New York Jets’ 2024 offseason moves
Randy Lange – 8 Things to Know About New Jets Free Agent Left Tackle Tyron Smith
NewYorkJets.com – Tyron Smith: I’m Very Excited for This New Chapter with the Jets
Ben Krimmel – Tyron Smith: Jets putting pieces together to be team that ‘could go all the way’
Brian Costello – Jets’ John Simpson, Morgan Moses thrilled with unexpected reunion
NewYorkJets.com – Why Does Mike Williams Think Garrett Wilson Will Be a Perfect Running Mate at Wide Receiver?
Ethan Greenberg – DT Leki Fotu Says He Signed with the Jets in Free Agency Because of the Opportunity
Jack Bell – Jets Notebook | Kurt Benkert in Awe of Aaron Rodgers’ ‘Hidden Attributes’
David Wyatt-Hupton – The Unpredictable Jets Draft
Stefan Stelling – Star college QB scheduled for pre-draft visit with NY Jets
Brandyn Pokrass – NY and Winnipeg Jets reference famous Mike Francesa moment
Here are your missed connections from yesterday.
The New York Jets’ 2023 season was over before it started when quarterback Aaron Rodgers ruptured his Achilles in the first quarter of Week 1, sending shockwaves through the NFL.
There was so much hope for Gang Green, too. Rodgers would finally take the team over the top. The Jets’ defense was Super Bowl-ready; all that was lacking was a competent offense, making Aaron Rodgers the missing piece.
Now, one year later, optimism around the Jets has returned. Rodgers will be back for the season opener, and general manager Joe Douglas has been busy adding upgrades in free agency.
Here are my grades for the New York Jets’ primary offseason moves so far.
Tyron Smith, LT
Smith brings stability to a left tackle spot that the Jets have long struggled to fix. Sure, he’s 33 and hasn’t been the beacon of good health in recent seasons, but he’s better than any left tackle New York has fielded in quite some time.
Grade: B
Morgan Moses, RT (via trade)
The New York Jets’ offensive line rebuild included a trade for Baltimore Ravens right tackle Morgan Moses, who returns to the Big Apple after starting 16 games for the Jets in 2021. Moses, like Tyron Smith, is 33 years old and likely entering the final lap of his career, but he has at least another season or two of quality play left in the tank.
Grade: B
Mike Williams, WR
I really like the Jets’ decision to sign Williams, whom I consider a bargain at $15 million in 2024. Sure, he’s coming off a torn ACL, but he suffered the injury last September and will be nearly one year removed from surgery by the time Week 1 rolls around. Williams gives Aaron Rodgers an Alpha outside receiver who, combined with Garrett Wilson, will form a dynamic 1-2 punch in the passing game.
Grade: B+
Javon Kinlaw, DL
Kinlaw is a former Draft Twitter favorite who never lived up to his first-round hype in San Francisco. He signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Jets and will be a rotational player in their defensive front. I wasn’t high on Kinlaw as a draft prospect, and I’m not surprised he’s at this point in his career. He’ll be an OK backup in 2024.
Grade: C-
Tyrod Taylor, QB
If the 2023 season taught us anything about the New York Jets, it’s that they need a quality backup quarterback behind Rodgers. Zach Wilson wasn’t that guy, and while Tyrod Taylor isn’t a world-beater, he’s an upgrade over Wilson. Jets fans certainly hope they won’t see any of Taylor in 2024, but if pressed into action, he has enough talent to keep New York in a playoff hunt.
Grade: C+
Solomon Thomas, DL
Thomas is a 2017 first-round bust who’s been relegated to a series of one-year contracts (for three seasons in a row) with the Jets. He’s coming off a career-best five sacks in 2023, so maybe there’s still some untapped upside in the former Stanford star.
Grade: C
John Simpson, G
Simpson was an underrated prospect from Clemson who proved in 2023 that he has the baseline skill set to be a quality starting guard in the NFL. He’s still a young player (26) with upside. Simpson signed a two-year deal worth up to $16 million, which will be considered a bargain if he continues his progression.
Grade: C+
Greg Zuerlein, K
Kicker alert! Legatron returns to
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