Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSW.
Colin Cowherd isn’t overly optimistic about Aaron Rodgers guiding the New York Jets to a massive turnaround this season.
On his Tuesday show, the pundit called it “crazy” that the Jets are currently favored to win 14 of 17 games on DraftKings Sportsbook. They’re only underdogs for road games against the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins.
Despite the game-by-game odds, DraftKings set their season win total to 9.5. Cowherd is still taking the under.
“This team screams 8-9 or 9-8,” Cowherd said. “And for the record, 9-8 over the last 10-12 years would be a great season for the New York Jets. But three things I look at — head coach, quarterback, and organizational stability — I have questions with all of them.”
Cowherd first noted some reasons for optimism around the Jets, who wield a stellar defense and no longer have to deal with Bill Belichick twice a year. He called their schedule “pretty workable and especially easy early.”
However, they still must combat Josh Allen’s Bills. Cowherd also isn’t sold by their new-look offensive line.
“The O-line is rebuilt, but players are mostly old, past their prime, or young and not there yet,” Cowherd said. “Very few offensive linemen, as in zero, in their prime.”
Furthermore, Cowherd called Nathaniel Hackett a “bottom-five offensive coordinator.” He’s worried about head coach Robert Saleh entering the season on the hot seat and wondered what the Jets can reasonably expect from a returning Rodgers, who posted a 91.1 quarterback rating for the 8-9 Green Bay Packers in 2022.
“I don’t get the Jets stuff,” Cowherd said. “Mostly because I have eyes, and I’ve watched it for 10 years.”