Change can take multiple forms. The New York Jets know that as well as just about any franchise in professional sports. When Aaron Rodgers was their quarterback, that change led to a never-ending media cycle and plenty of theatrics along the way. That was one example of the many paths.
Another example is how things are going in the post-Rodgers era. The Jets are flying under the radar this offseason, and it isn’t for a lack of movement. New leaders at head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and quarterback should all drum up some buzz. New York isn’t garnering much of it, though. That isn’t a bad thing, says one former Jets player.
In a pre-training camp episode of ESPN’s “Get Up” program, Damien Woody had nothing but good things to say about the Jets’ offseason.
Former Jets Lineman Tips Cap to No-Nonsense Approach of Aaron Glenn
Much of Woody’s praise stems directly from the approach of their head coach. Aaron Glenn doesn’t want all eyes to be on his team. He’s focused on building something genuine and, in turn, sustainable. The lack of attention and speculation seems intentional.
“It’s great, and it’s by design,” Woody said. “It’s by design with Aaron Glenn. He wanted to calm down all the noise. He just wants to move in silence. And the way the Jets have been handling their business – obviously, we talked about Sauce Gardner, we talked about Garrett Wilson – those are not talking points anymore. Those guys are paid; they’ve been rewarded. So now you go into training camp, there’s no noise. They can just focus on handling their business.”
Those aforementioned extensions assist in maintaining the underlying theme of sustainability. Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick in 2022, is on the books through 2030 and is the league’s highest-paid cornerback now. Wilson, who went six selections later in the same draft, has his contract tied to the same timeframe. As a few teams around the league deal with unresolved contract situations, the Jets got their business done early.
That plan starts with general manager Darren Mougey and trickles down to Glenn, his coaches and his players.
Woody Pitches Potential Calm Before the Storm in 2025
Woody’s positive assessment didn’t stop there. He believes the Jets just might be able to ruffle some other teams’ feathers down the stretch of the 2025-26 campaign.
“Listen, I agree with what Mike T [Tannenbaum] said,” Woody explained. “If you look at this team, they’re strong on the offensive line. They’ve got a very good athlete at quarterback. They’ve got a strong backfield. Defense should be pretty good. It could make noise later on, but it’s calm in Florham Park right now.”
This is surprisingly high praise for a franchise that hasn’t posted a winning season in a decade. Since going 10-6 in 2015, New York’s combined record is 46-102. That’s dreadful. The 2022 season did flash some upside, as the defense ranked fourth in scoring and yards surrendered. A year-over-year decline has ensued, however, alongside continued ineptitude on offense.
The Jets’ hope is Justin Fields can make things work on offense in 2025. On the other side of the ball, players like Gardner and NFL Top 100 player Quinnen Williams are aiming for rebound campaigns. New York’s over/under win total of five-and-a-half is nothing to write home about.
If things do go wrong this time, it won’t stem from distractions.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Former Jets Player Applauds Team’s Approach to Offseason appeared first on Heavy Sports.