Even in a down season some things have gone right for the Jets
The New York Jets have been awful in 2024. However, just because the team is awful doesn’t mean that aren’t at least a few bright spots.
So, with that in mind (and in the interest of trying to find something positive in this slop of a season), who have been the Jets best players thus far this season? To try to answer that, I’ll rely on the season-long overall PFF grades for players who played at least 150 snaps
On offense, the top 6 PFF grades go to:
- Guard John Simpson: 80.7
- Wide receiver Garrett Wilson: 79.8
- Quarterback Aaron Rodgers: 75.9
- Guard Joe Tippman: 73.8
- Tackle Tyron Smith: 73.6
- Running back Braelon Allen: 73.4
On defense, the top 6 PFF grades go to:
- Cornerback D.J. Reed: 76.6
- Interior defensive lineman Quinnen WIlliams: 75.3
- Linebacker: Jamien Sherwood: 72.8
- Safety Isaiah Oliver: 70.4
- Interior defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III: 70.1
- Safety Tony Adams: 69.0
Two things stand out to me within these lists.
First, the Jets added some good pieces on offense this offseason. Essentially, four of their top six offensive players are new to the team this season (if we include Rodgers as new given that he made it all of 4 snaps in 2023). Last season, many talked about how far away the offense was from being even competitive. Turns out, those folks were right because the offense stinks even after four 4 major additions broke right. Honestly, it’s impressive, even if its impressive for a bad reason.
Second, the individual performances within the defense have fallen off. Their highest grade doesn’t even crack 80. Their 6th highest grade doesn’t even crack 70 and has since been benched (reportedly by the team’s owner). This is quite simply a unit that is playing far, far, far worse than what we’ve become accustomed to in recent years. Most notably, cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II have fallen from two of the league’s best defenders to players with a PFF grades of 66.0 and 54.8, respectively, which are two fall offs that I don’t think anyone saw coming.
What do you think? Which players are you surprised did or did not make the lists?