The New York Jets are days away from putting this disastrous 2024 season behind them. A year of regression, personnel changes, and controversies filling the headlines were front and center in 2024. The Jets find themselves with a 2-14 record, almost identical to Robert Saleh’s first season in 2021. With the goal of a playoff berth far out of reach, fans of Metlife prepare for the inevitable rebuild coming next year. However, this year wasn’t entirely terrible. It witnessed the growth of two long-tenured players and a flier on the offensive line who turned into an important cog. Despite all the misery, some players are still willing to fight for this team, like linebacker Jamien Sherwood. Sherwood stepped into the starting linebacker role for the Jets and he’s had a great season. Jamien Sherwood is among three players who earned a new contract with the New York Jets.
Three Jets Players Who Earned a New Contract This Year
The 2024 season will go down as an all-time failure for the New York Jets. A team with Super Bowl aspirations whose only wins came against a 3-13 Patriots, the 3-13 Titans, the Houston Texans without Nico Collins & Steffon Diggs playing, and an injury-riddled 3-13 Jaguars. With the talk of missed opportunities in one-score games, their wins this year haven’t been against the strongest competition. Concurrently, the franchise agreed after moving on from both their head coach and general manager before Thanksgiving. A large part of that stems from Aaron Rodgers’s regression. While the statistical output isn’t terrible, Rodgers is a benefactor of volume. When you throw the ball the fourth-most times in the league but have a 27th-ranked completion percentage, that’s not productive. Alas, three players have shown their worth.
Jamien Sherwood, linebacker
When looking for positives from this season, look no further than Jamien Sherwood. While on the outside looking in as a backup, the 2021 fifth-round pick earned extended playing time this year with CJ Mosley injured. As a result, Sherwood put together one of the best seasons by a linebacker in franchise history. The former Auburn Tiger has more than tripled his tackle total from last year. He has 152 total tackles, while his 95 solo tackles lead the NFL as of this writing. Along with two sacks, the 24-year-old has shown flashes of greatness. He stepped up to the challenge of replacing a respected leader on this defense. In doing so, he may have earned a big extension heading into his first free agency this season.
John Simpson, guard
After the frustrating tenure of Laken Tomlinson and the injury history of Alijah Vera-Tucker, New York needed to improve the interior O-line. As a result, the team signed former Baltimore Ravens guard John Simpson. After a lackluster beginning of his career with the Raiders, Simpson was important to Baltimore’s offense leading to Lamar Jackson’s second MVP win. He’s proved last year’s revival wasn’t a flook. He’s started all 16 games thus far and only has five total penalties on the year. In fact, he’s only had two penalties since October. His consistency will be a valuable resource long term at only 26 years old.
Garrett Wilson, wide receiver
With the tenth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, New York selected arguably their most talented player within the last 15 years. Only three seasons into his career and Garrett Wilson demonstrates why he’s a premier talent in the league. This past Sunday, Wilson became the first player in team history to have a 1,000-yard season in each of his three first seasons. His third 1,000-yard season ties him with George Sauer Jr. for second most in franchise history. With rumors of a trade request coming this offseason, the Jets must do everything in their power to retain Wilson long-term. Especially if a choice has to come between keeping Wilson or appeasing a delusional broken veteran quarterback who’s only focused on his own Canton fantasies. In a battle of Rodgers vs. Wilson; the choice is abundantly clear. Garrett Wilson should take priority over all.
Main Photo: [Chris Pedota] – USA Today Sports
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