The New York Jets‘ future has never seemed brighter. The same sentiment abounded last year with the entry of Super Bowl Champion Aaron Rodgers. However, his heartbreaking Achilles injury dashed all hopes to the ground.

But with A-Rod set to return this year in full form, optimism is returning among the fans. His one former teammate from Green Bay even thinks the Super Bowl might not be far from the grasp of the Jets if they take care of some persistent issues.

Aaron Rodgers would need to go through Patrick Mahomes

James Jones has incredible faith in the Jets for the upcoming season. During a conversation on Speak, the former Packers’ wide receiver shared his reaction when the four-time MVP first joined New York last season, “The Jets, since Aaron Rodgers has got there, right, and I will just say myself cause I was one of the ones when Aaron got there. I said they going to the Super Bowl with the defense that they had.”

Though the Jets ended their season with a dismal 7-10, Jones thinks the team is gearing up for a comeback. Citing the draft additions, the former NFL star opined that the roster has upgraded in all aspects this offseason. He said, “Obviously, you have to go through Patrick Mahomes, and you have to go through some other teams that may pop out of the -AFC. But this team, with what they have on paper and if they can stay healthy, is built to win a championship yesterday.” And Jones might not be very off from the truth, either.

Mahomes undeniably has had a steep ride to success winning the Super Bowl MVP three times, but Rodgers himself is a four-time MVP and has lifted the Lombardi trophy once. The former Packers star also led the league in 2020 with a 70.7% completion rate, while the Chiefs QB had a 66.3 % completion rate in comparison. The two greats have faced each other twice, drawing the record at 1-1.

So, it’s safe to assume that Rodgers would give the Chiefs a tough fight for the championship if he returns to full health. And as per GM, Joe Douglas, the quarterback, is “slinging the ball as ever“. So with A-Rod’s much-anticipated return, how has the NFL Draft panned out for the Jets this year?

The Jets get support for Rodgers in the Draft

The first need for New York was a worthy backup for their lead quarterback. It was apparent last season when Zach Wilson couldn’t fit the veteran’s big shoes and was unsurprisingly traded to Denver this offseason. The wait for Wilson’s replacement ended sooner than expected, though, with the Jets’ affordable pick in the fifth round.

The rookie from Florida State enters the historic franchise at the perfect time. Jordan Travis fell off last season after suffering a leg injury, but the quarterback would get the time he needs to develop under the wing of Rodgers. Travis already has the skills needed for a future NFL star. The 2023 ACC Player of the Year has 635 completions, 8,693 passing yards, and 66 touchdowns in his college career.

“It’s a dream come true” for the 24-year-old rookie. Travis expressed his excitement at being drafted to the franchise and playing under the mentorship of Rodgers. “I fell in love with those guys,” said, as per the team’s website. “so yeah, I can’t wait to meet Aaron and Tyrod and just pick their brains every single day, see how they treat their teammates, how they carry themselves, off the field, on the field, and just learn the things and I can’t wait.”

Amped with renewed hopes and energy, the Jets are hellbent on improving their record from last season, and Aaron Rodgers’ return and the team’s upgraded roster seem to be a step in the right direction. While its hard to predict how the 20224 season will pan out, watching Mahomes and A-Rod go head-to-head will surely have fans on the edge of their seats.