New York Jets Becoming Popular Worst to First Choice for 2023 NFL Season

Gang Green finished fourth in its division last year, but Aaron Rodgers' arrival has drastically changed the outlook

© Jonathan Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Upgrading their offense by trading for a four-time MVP, the New York Jets have become serious players in the AFC East race.

One analyst sees Gang Green as the top "worst—to—first" candidate in the National Football League. Around the NFL writer Kevin Patra placed the Jets at No. 1 in "2023 NFL season: Ranking all eight candidates to go from worst to first in division races."

The Jets featured the NFL's fourth-ranked defense last season but lived in the bottom 25 percent of the League in key passing metrics. The end result was a seven-win season and fourth-place finish, but fans and pundits alike were left feeling that the team would be a legit contender with competent quarterback play.

Now, with future Hall—of—Famer Aaron Rodgers at the controls, the Jets are the darlings of the 2023 NFL Offseason. They also added proven veteran receivers Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman early in free agency and took a flier on Rodgers' long-time buddy Randall Cobb.

As a result, Sports Illustrated predicted an 11-win season for the Green & White after the 2023 NFL schedule announcement was made. NFL analytics expert Cynthia Frelund projected 9.8 wins for Gang Green, which finished fifth overall amongst AFC teams in the predictive analysis. 

In April, Athlon Sports pegged the Jets as one of "the three NFL teams most likely to go from worst to first in 2023."

One major obstacle in the way of the Jets going from worst to first is the quality of their fellow division members. The AFC East is arguably the best division, from top to bottom, out of the NFL's eight quartets. 

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READ Sportsbook Lists New York Jets as Serious Threat to Buffalo Bills

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Buffalo has won the division each of the last three seasons and brings back a similarly potent lineup from last year's team led by MVP candidate Josh Allen. If quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains healthy, Miami features a high-potent offense that will have it in the thick of the race. Then, there's Bill Belichick and New England. Although the Patriots appear to be destined for last place on paper, it's unwise to doubt the head coach with the second-most wins in league annals.

From NFL.com's worst—to—first rankings:

1. New York Jets

AFC East · 2022 record: 7-10 

"New York finished in the AFC East cellar for the third consecutive season and sixth time in the past seven years. The last time the Jets won the division, George W. Bush was in office -- in his first term. Yup, 2002 feels like a lifetime ago. Robert Saleh's club raced out to a hot start last season on the strength of its defense, but the struggles at quarterback ultimately crashed the Jets. Enter four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. In his worst seasons, Rodgers is better than anyone Gang Green has employed at quarterback for over a decade. The schedule is brutal, and New York competes in perhaps the NFL's best division in 2023, but given the upgrade at quarterback and an excellent defense on paper, the Jets are an easy choice to top this list of worst-to-first candidates. ...." 

— Kevin Patra

Ranking all eight candidates to go from worst to first in division races (by @kpatra): Where do new-look Jets stack up? https://t.co/gRXP7VDNtB pic.twitter.com/HgEmU3aWra

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 27, 2023

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