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PFF shares reason for optimism for 2024 Jets

Pro Football Focus shares their reason for optimism for the 2024 Jets

With training camp on the horizon, all 32 teams are still holding out hope for the new season, hoping this is the season they break through. The New York Jets, in particular, are one of those teams following another aggressive offseason in rebuilding the offensive line to protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the hopes of making their push for the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season.

Those two keys also happen to be the reasons for optimism for the Jets in 2024, as shared by Pro Football Focus writer Dalton Wasserman. Specifically, as Wasserman writes, “Aaron Rodgers is healthy, and this time, he has an offensive line.”

Wasserman had this to say about Rodgers and the line and why fans should feel good:

“The story of the Jets’ 2023 season was Aaron Rodgers’ torn Achilles, but a culmination of questionable decisions and bad injury luck on the offensive line doomed the team, too. New York likely wouldn’t have succeeded no matter who played quarterback behind the league’s second-worst offensive line.

“This offseason, future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith, the league’s leader in pass-blocking grade, was brought in to lock things down at left tackle. New York added two other starters, Morgan Moses and John Simpson, at tremendous value. Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker returns from injury, and the team drafted Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu as the eventual replacement for Smith. Rodgers should be well-protected in 2024.”

On top of all that, the Jets return second-year pro Joe Tippmann at center, who by many accounts, has had a great spring and could be poised to take his game to another level this season.

Staying healthy will obviously be the biggest factor for the offensive line, as their luck has not been the greatest over the last two seasons. But if they can stay healthy, the offense can take that next step and give the Jets hope to not only reach the playoffs, but potentially win the AFC East for the first time since 2002, host a playoff game and make a run deep into January.

PFF releases cornerback rankings: Is Sauce Gardner No. 1?

Sauce Gardner has already established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL in just two seasons. There’s a case to be made he is the best cornerback in the league. That depends who you ask.

John Kosko of Pro Football Focus recently tackled that question as he ranked the top 32 cornerbacks in the league. Did Gardner come in as No. 1?

He sure did.

Here’s what Kosko had to say about Gardner:

Gardner has arguably the most impressive start to a career for a cornerback in NFL history, having quickly transformed the Jets secondary into the best unit in the NFL.

The Jets star has earned a 92.1 coverage grade and allowed only 0.53 yards per coverage snap over the last two years, both of which rank first among all cornerbacks in the league. He’s had a simply incredible two-year run and will look to continue his elite play in Year 3.

Gardner ranked 1st or 2nd in just about every advanced stat, including leading in PFF coverage grade (92.1), passer rating allowed (63.0) and yards allowed per coverage snap (0.53).

Gardner wasn’t the only highly-ranked cornerback from Kosko. Michael Carter II also landed inside the top ten at No. 9.

The Jets boast two top-10 cornerbacks, as Carter has been arguably the best slot cornerback in the game over the last two seasons. He allowed just one touchdown and eight first downs in 2023, giving up just 0.62 yards per coverage snap. He prevents separation and grades exceptionally well.

And for good measure, D.J. Reed checks in at No. 14.

Reed has been incredibly consistent for years now, as he’s put up PFF grades above 75.0 in each of the past three seasons. His two-year 84.1 grade ranks sixth at the position.

Rounding out the top five after Gardner are Trent McDuffie (Chiefs), Charvarius ward (49ers), Pat Surtain II (Broncos) and Jaylon Johnson (Bears).

Jets offensive PFF grades from 30-0 loss vs. Dolphins

The New York Jets laid a big egg Sunday. After a 30-6 win over the Houston Texans in Week 14, all seemed right in the world again. Then Week 15 happened. The Jets had the doors blown off in Miami, losing 30-0 and seeing their playoff hopes officially fade away.

The grades are in from Pro Football Focus and we’ll take a look at some of the offensive grades from Week 15.

Best and worst PFF grades from Jets’ Week 9 loss to Chargers

Monday night was an exercise in futility for the offense of the New York Jets, leading to a tough 27-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers to fall to 4-4. The defense certainly stepped up and did all they could to help the Jets but the offense obviously didn’t get the job done.

The grades from Pro Football Focus will certainly reflect how the game went down. There were a few good players but offense, but for the most part, it was average, at best.

We’ll take a look here and the best and worst grades on offense and defense for Week 9 for the Jets as the team reaches the halfway point of the season.

Jets select Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb in PFF mock draft

In Pro Football Focus analytics-driven mock draft, the Jets select Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb over Mekhi Becton and Jedrick Wills Jr.

Pro Football Focus released a new mock draft this week, but this one has a different allure to it.

An industry leader in football data, PFF created an algorithm for its latest mock draft that is solely focused on analytics while accounting for a prospective team’s needs. For the Jets, it leads to an intriguing scenario with the 11th pick. With tackles Tristan Wirfs, Andrew Thomas and Josh Jones already off the board, the Jets opt for Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb.

Here’s PFF’s explanation for the selection:

With Robby Anderson likely leaving and the time ticking on Sam Darnold’s rookie deal, the Jets stock up at receiver with the former Oklahoma Sooner star. Lamb was the fifth most valuable wide receiver in college football last year, but he was the second most valuable one who played fewer than 700 snaps.

Interestingly enough, the analytics are not high on Louisville’s Mekhi Becton or Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr., who the Jets would presumably pick between in this scenario. Instead, PFF has them falling out of the first round altogether. For New York to pass on both Becton and Wills, it has to be comfortable with its free agency results, but it might not be financially feasible to trade for someone like Trent Williams and add a Bryan Bulaga or Jack Conklin at right tackle.

Just two weeks ago at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Lamb stole the show and cemented his status as one of the top wide receivers in this draft class. While 20 out of 55 receivers may have run a faster 40-yard dash than Lamb, it doesn’t account for his play speed and how he was able to set the college football world ablaze playing in Lincoln Riley’s fast-paced offense.

The Jets desperately need a No. 1 wide receiver and Lamb can instantly provide an immediate impact with his tremendous ball skills and explosiveness with the ball in his hands.

In 2019, Lamb was named a first-team Associated Press All-American and a Biletnikoff Award finalist and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. In 13 starts, he led the Sooners with 62 receptions for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns.

New PFF mock draft has Jets selecting Alabama OL Jedrick Wills Jr.

In Pro Football Focus’ latest mock draft, they have the Jets taking Alabama OL Jedrick Wills, Jr., who can plausibly play both tackle spots.

Pro Football Focus released a new mock draft as the NFL Scouting Combine got underway this week.

In this mock draft, PFF has the Jets taking Alabama OL Jedrick Wills Jr. with the 11th pick. With prospects Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb and Andrew Thomas already off the board, the Jets elect to take Wills over Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton, both, who tested excellently at the scouting combine on Friday.

Instead of taking a plug-and-play left tackle, the Jets opt for versatility. Here’s PFF’s explanation for the selection:

While Thomas ranks first among offensive tackles on PFF’s latest big board, Wills is right behind him at No. 9 overall and No. 2 among tackles. The former Alabama standout is expected to blow up the Combine from a testing standpoint considering his sheer athleticism and foot speed. Wills also recorded a 90.1 PFF run-blocking grade in the SEC this past season, a remarkable figure for a underclassman.

Since the start of the draft process, Wills has been working on his versatility and trying to show NFL teams that he can also play the left side at the next level. When Joe Douglas spoke with reporters at the combine, he mentioned that versatility would be a big factor when New York evaluates its options on the offensive line before April’s draft.

“Trying to do both because I know that’s something that teams have questions about,” Wills said. “Just trying to have that versatility. It’s something that’s new. Any time at a new position, there’s going to be a new feeling, but it’s something I’m trying to be comfortable with.”

Given the state of the Jets offensive line, Wills could start at both tackle positions depending on how the current Jets regime feels about Chuma Edoga, a player Douglas did not draft. Still, versatility is a trait the Jets are seeking out as they attempt to restructure the offensive line.

Wills is viewed as a potential top-five pick in the draft and arguably the best offensive lineman. It would be a surprise if Wills is on the board when the Jets make their selection, but if he is, this pick not only benefits Sam Darnold’s development, but it aids Le’Veon Bell as well.

Wills’ run-blocking grade should be something that intrigues the Jets. The team failed to adequately block and create running holes for Bell in 2019, which caused the All-Pro back to hit statistical lows in his first season in green and white.