Just Like His Ex, New York Went for Defense in Draft While Aaron Rodgers Deal Closed Out, Jets Coach Now Reveals Why

The New York Jets have finally brought in a solution to their QB woes from last season. With 4x NFL MVP QB Aaron Rodgers on the team, the franchise will be hoping for a Super Bowl-worthy season in 2023. Rookie CB Sauce Gardner and WR Garrett Wilson both won the Defensive and Offensive rookie player of the Year awards in 2022 for their spectacular debut season. But there have been questions about strengthening their defense even more after it lacks depth in the safety position.

The Jets used their 2023 Draft picks to bring in rookie defensive players to the team. And HC Robert Saleh recently revealed the intentions behind the Draft picks and their outcome in the coming season ahead.

The Jets want a strong defensive fort for Aaron Rodgers on the field

At the 2023 Drafts, the New York Jets have gone on to bring in defensive players to solidify their D-line even more. They went on to bring in edge rusher Will McDonald IV, RB Israel Abanikanda, LB Zaire Barnes, and CB Jarrid Bernard-Converse. Speaking about the draft picks on a recent episode of the Rich Eisen Show, HC Robert Saleh opened up about the reasons behind the team’s decision.

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Saleh stated that it all depends on what they value as a team. He went on to say that the NFL is now a passing league, with pass rushers taking charge on the field. Furthermore, he went on to clarify their decision to draft McDonald IV as their first-round pick, stating that, “he’s going to be very very hard to block” once he matures and develops with time. Saleh said, “I’ve always made the argument that you can have a hall of fame backend, corner, safeties, linebackers. But if your D-line can’t get to the QB, then you’re going to be very average at defense at best.”

When it comes to improving their play on the field, there are certainly a few places where the Jets can put in more effort to further ensure the holistic development of the team.

The Jets’ paradoxical Defense

According to an article by Rivka Boord for JET X, the team has certain areas of improvement in terms of defense for the upcoming 2023 season. The first and most important area of concern is tackling. The Jets struggled in his position last season, ranking 25th with a 14.5% missed tackle rate. This area may see improvement with safety Chuck Clark, who was traded in the offseason from the Baltimore Ravens. His presence in the field can make a difference in both run and pass games.

Other defensive departments with room for improvement are third-down efficiency, turnovers, and fumbles. With the addition of new talents to the defensive roster, the 2023 season might see the Jets making better defensive plays, while still working on that cohesion between the O-line and D-line.

A great example of the power of a good defense is Tom Brady’s time with the Patriots and Buccaneers. Bill Belichick’s defense at the Patriots was a contributing factor to their glorious Super Bowl run. As for the Bucs, they had won the Super Bowl in 2002 while boasting five defensive all-pros. When Brady joined the Bucs, they had players like Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul, Devin White, and others holding onto the fort while Brady led them to a Super Bowl ring.

It will be interesting to see how the Jets use their draft picks to structure a roster for the future. Do you think the Jets’ defense will be a cause of concern in the new season? Let us know in the comments below. 

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