SI's Breer Says One Issue Can Keep Jets Out of Playoffs

Will things fall into place along front five?

There's no shortage of projections that show the New York Jets ending their long-running postseason drought in 2023, but there's one particular unit that needs to hold up in order for it to happen. 

Protecting their future Hall-of-Fame quarterback, and allowing him to operate comfortably, is of utmost importance to Gang Green's anticipated success. 

In a recent mailbag, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer was asked if the hype surrounding the Jets is justified and the SI national scribe suggested that the front five holds the keys to the team's fate. 

Excerpt from "Mailbag: Jonathan Taylor’s Trade Value, Jordan Love Prediction, Worst-to-First Candidates":

From hpjr (@hpjr): Jets hype. Real or nah?

It’s real, with one caveat: that things have to fall into place along the offensive line. 

The Jets‘ defensive line is loaded, and they legitimately can go 10 deep there. They have a war daddy at linebacker in C.J. Mosley and a strong secondary led by a first-team All-Pro corner in Sauce Gardner. And the offensive skill around Aaron Rodgers is deep, with Breece Hall’s return adding another score-from-anywhere threat to a group that has one of the best young receivers in football in Garrett Wilson and a deep well of complementary weapons. 

So I hate to make this all about one thing, but right now it feels like it really is. 

Does Duane Brown, coming off rotator cuff surgery, hold up at 38 years old? Has Mekhi Becton really grown up? Is Joe Tippmann ready to start at center, and, if not, how does Connor McGovern work out there? Does Alijah Vera-Tucker hit the ground running coming off his ACL injury? These are all fair questions, and the sum of the answers could be the difference between being a championship-caliber team and missing the playoffs in a stacked AFC.

— Albert Breer

There have been positive developments over the past week when it comes to the state of the Jets' starting offensive line.

"We feel good about the collective whole of the group individually. It’s just a matter of getting five guys on the field, getting healthy, and working together," said head coach Robert Saleh after the preseason finale.

First, left tackle Duane Brown came off the PUP list and began practicing. Guards Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker returned after being banged up a week earlier.

Then, albeit a short sample size, Mekhi Becton appears on the way to a successful transition to right tackle. The 2020 first-round draft pick, who hasn't appeared in a regular season game since the 2021 opener, was featured with the starting unit in Saturday's preseason win over the New York Giants.

"I have always said if Big Bec [Becton] can get the ball rolling, and we started that snowball down the hill a long time ago with him integrating back into practice and all of that. That snowball keeps rolling and we feel really good about our O-line," said Saleh.

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