NFL analyst Ryan Clark has the New York Jets in a spot to make the playoffs this year. This, despite the fact that the Jets are the third-ranked team in the AFC East Clark’s rankings.
Clark made his projection about the Jets while appearing on the ‘Power Hour’ show with ESPN’s Mina Kimes. Clark, a Super Bowl winner who made the Pro Bowl in 2011, played 13 years in the NFL as a safety.
Much of the optimism about the Jets for Clark very obviously centers on a healthy Aaron Rodgers. Clark believes that if Rodgers is healthy, then the Jets can take that next step and be a solid team in 2024.
In talking about the Jets, Clark made sure to single out that head coach “Robert Saleh is a damn good defensive football coach. He really is.” He compared the situation of Saleh with that of former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick:
“He had Tom Brady so there were times he could be hands off offensively and make sure he got stops Robert Saleh needs that and maybe Aaron Rodgers is that because Nathaniel Hackett is there because Aaron Rodgers is there. But if Aaron is healthy, you add in another young wide receiver so you’re at least are trying to give Garrett Wilson some opportunities to get one-on-ones. And if he’s not getting one-on-ones, you have people now who can get open with a quarterback who is among the best we’ve ever seen.
“So, I feel like it is good. We are where we were with the Jets last year, right? Last year with the Jets, we were like ‘This team is going to go to the Super Bowl, they’re going to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs.’ I believe where we have them now is about where they should be.”
Clark has the Buffalo Bills as the sixth team in his ranking and the Miami Dolphins at No. 10