Jets Among NFL Teams 'Facing Greatest Burden of Expectation' in 2023

There's a sense of urgency surrounding Gang Green heading into Robert Saleh's third season

© John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

When the New York Jets completed a trade for 39-year old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, they officially entered "win now" mode. 

Gang Green featured the NFL's fourth-ranked defense last year while welcoming exciting offensive rookies Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall into the fold. 

Primarily due to injuries and sub-par quarterback performance, the Jets' 2022 campaign went from promising to deflating. Robert Saleh's team ended the season on a six-game losing streak that dropped them to fourth place in the AFC East. 

With all of their top performers returning, the Green & White looks to boost its offensive production and its win total by bringing in a four-time NFL MVP to take the snaps. 

The key problem facing the Jets is time. 

First, Rodgers is still an above-average player, but he's in the twilight of a storied career. Nevermind how many years he's willing to give the Jets, one has to think about how much longer he can maintain a high level of performance.

Meanwhile, in today's salary cap era, it won't be easy for the Jets to keep all of their defensive pieces as the years transpire. They already have to find a way to lock up All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams for the long term. How about when Sauce Gardner is eligible for a new deal?

The AFC East rival Buffalo Bills featured a similar conundrum this offseason and let former first-round linebacker Tremaine Edmunds sign with the Chicago Bears.

Keeping this particular Jets' team together will be a challenge, meaning the pressure to win in 2023 will be immense and the New York media will only magnify it. 

Around The NFL podcast host Dan Hanzus has set the Jets' "urgency meter" at 9.8 — the second highest out of 32 teams. Hanzus identified the 10 teams who "will have the greatest burden of expectation come September" and ranked them on NFL.com.

"Acknowledge the noise, acknowledge the positivity, be excited about it," said Saleh during OTAs. "I think 32 coaches stand in front of their team every year and talk about winning a championship. Realistically, there’s maybe six to eight teams that have an actual chance to do it, and I do think we are one of those teams."

The Bills scored a 10.0 to top the rankings as the team "facing greatest burden of expectation." All four AFC East teams landed on the list. The Miami Dolphins (8.7) finished sixth and the New England Patriots (8.0) were slotted ninth.

From "NFL URGENCY METER! Bills headline 10 teams facing greatest burden of expectation in 2023 season":

9.8 — New York Jets

2022 record: 7-10

The Jets might not be in true Super Bowl-or-bust mode like their division rivals in Western New York, but the blockbuster acquisition of Aaron Rodgers has made this one of the most important seasons in franchise history. It's difficult to overstate how vital it is for Rodgers to stay on the field, play at a high level and end New York's league-worst -- North American professional sports worst -- playoff drought after 12 long years. If he fails, it could mean the end of Robert Saleh's run as head coach -- and potentially Joe Douglas' run as general manager, too. Rodgers has said and done all the right things since the league-shaking April 24 trade -- but none of that will matter if he can't lift this star-crossed franchise out of irrelevance and into championship contention. It might be the greatest challenge yet for the four-time MVP.

— Dan Hanzus

NFL urgency meter (by @DanHanzus): With Aaron Rodgers' addition, grand expectations have hit Gotham, toohttps://t.co/2Ri4V7dHUR pic.twitter.com/OHU3YRWTbe

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 21, 2023

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