Mon, August 4, 2025
Sun, August 3, 2025
Sat, August 2, 2025
Thu, July 31, 2025
Wed, July 30, 2025
Tue, July 29, 2025
Mon, July 28, 2025
Sun, July 27, 2025
Fri, July 25, 2025
Thu, July 24, 2025
Wed, July 23, 2025
Tue, July 22, 2025
Mon, July 21, 2025
Sat, July 19, 2025
Fri, July 18, 2025
Thu, July 17, 2025

New look New York Jets are almost unrecognizable - that can only be a plus

  Copy link into your clipboard //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. most-unrecognizable-that-can-only-be-a-plus.html
  Print publication without navigation Published in Automotive and Transportation on by USA TODAY
          🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
  Gang Green''s new management is reaping the rewards of former GM Joe Douglas'' good work ...but must continue to avoid his mistakes.
The New York Jets, a franchise long mired in mediocrity and disappointment, are showing signs of a promising future, according to a detailed analysis by NFL columnist Nate Davis. The team, which has endured a 13-year playoff drought—the longest active streak in North American professional sports—has struggled to find consistent success since their last postseason appearance in 2010. However, recent developments in roster construction, player performance, and front-office decisions suggest that the Jets may finally be on the cusp of a turnaround. Central to this optimism are the team's young, talented core, led by wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner, as well as the strategic moves made by general manager Joe Douglas. These elements, combined with the potential of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, paint a picture of a franchise that could soon emerge as a legitimate contender in the AFC.

At the heart of the Jets' hopeful outlook are two cornerstone players: Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner. Wilson, a dynamic wide receiver, has quickly established himself as one of the league's most promising young talents at his position. Despite playing with inconsistent quarterback play during his early years in the NFL, Wilson has demonstrated an ability to create separation, make contested catches, and rack up significant yardage. His skill set makes him a critical piece of the Jets' offensive puzzle, and securing his long-term future with the team is seen as a priority. Similarly, Sauce Gardner has emerged as an elite shutdown cornerback, capable of neutralizing some of the league's best receivers. Gardner's ability to lock down one side of the field has given the Jets' defense a formidable edge, and his presence has helped elevate the unit into one of the league's better groups. Both players represent the kind of foundational talent that championship-caliber teams are built around, and their development is a key reason for optimism surrounding the franchise.

The importance of locking up Wilson and Gardner with long-term contracts cannot be overstated. As young stars on rookie deals, their current contracts are cost-effective for the Jets, allowing the team to allocate resources elsewhere while benefiting from high-level production. However, as their rookie contracts near their end, the Jets will face the challenge of negotiating extensions that reflect their market value while maintaining financial flexibility. General manager Joe Douglas has already shown a willingness to invest in homegrown talent, and securing Wilson and Gardner for the foreseeable future will be a critical test of his roster-building philosophy. Successfully extending these players would not only ensure continuity at key positions but also send a message to the fanbase and the league that the Jets are committed to building a sustainable winner. Failure to do so, on the other hand, could risk losing them to free agency or creating locker room discontent, scenarios that a franchise with the Jets' history of dysfunction can ill afford.

Beyond the individual talents of Wilson and Gardner, the Jets' overall roster construction under Joe Douglas has contributed to the sense of optimism. Douglas, who took over as general manager in 2019, inherited a team with significant holes across the board and a culture of losing. Over the past several years, he has worked to rebuild the roster through a combination of shrewd draft picks, strategic free-agent signings, and trades. His draft classes have produced not only Wilson and Gardner but also other promising young players who have shown flashes of potential. On the offensive side, the Jets have invested in protecting their quarterback and building a balanced attack, while defensively, they have prioritized speed, physicality, and versatility. Douglas's approach has been methodical, focusing on long-term growth rather than quick fixes, which is a departure from the short-sighted decision-making that has plagued the Jets in the past. While the results have not yet fully translated to wins on the field, the foundation appears to be in place for sustained improvement.

Of course, no discussion of the Jets' future can ignore the presence of Aaron Rodgers, the veteran quarterback who joined the team in a blockbuster trade. Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer with a storied career, was brought in to provide the kind of elite quarterback play that the Jets have lacked for decades. His arrival was seen as a potential game-changer, a move that could elevate the team from perennial underachiever to playoff contender overnight. However, Rodgers's tenure with the Jets has been marred by challenges, including an early injury that sidelined him for a significant portion of his first season with the team. Despite this setback, there remains hope that a healthy Rodgers can unlock the full potential of the Jets' offense, particularly with a talent like Garrett Wilson as his primary target. Rodgers's experience and leadership are also expected to have a positive impact on the development of younger players, providing a stabilizing presence in a locker room that has often lacked direction. The question remains whether Rodgers, at this stage of his career, can still perform at the elite level required to lead the Jets deep into the postseason, but his presence undeniably raises the team's ceiling.

The Jets' defense, anchored by Sauce Gardner, is another reason for optimism. Under head coach Robert Saleh, a defensive-minded coach with a track record of building stout units, the Jets have developed a group that can compete with the best offenses in the league. The defensive line has been a particular strength, with players who can disrupt opposing quarterbacks and stuff the run. In the secondary, Gardner's emergence as a lockdown corner has allowed the Jets to play aggressive, man-to-man coverage schemes that limit big plays. This defensive identity has been a bright spot even during seasons when the offense has struggled, and it provides a foundation that the team can rely on as they work to improve their overall performance. If the offense can catch up to the defense's level of play, the Jets could become a well-rounded team capable of winning in multiple ways.

Despite these positive developments, challenges remain for the Jets as they look to the future. The AFC is a brutally competitive conference, with powerhouse teams and elite quarterbacks standing in the way of playoff contention. The Jets will need to navigate a tough division, where rivals have established themselves as consistent winners. Additionally, the team's history of dysfunction and inability to close out close games raises questions about whether they can overcome their past demons. For all of Douglas's roster-building success, the ultimate measure of progress will be wins and losses, and the Jets have yet to prove they can string together the kind of consistent success needed to make a deep playoff run. There is also the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers's long-term future with the team, as his age and injury history add an element of risk to the quarterback position.

Nevertheless, the pieces are in place for the Jets to take a significant step forward. Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner represent the kind of young, elite talent that can anchor a franchise for years to come, and Joe Douglas's steady hand in the front office has helped build a roster with depth and potential. If Aaron Rodgers can return to form and provide the quarterback play the team desperately needs, the Jets could finally break their playoff drought and establish themselves as a force in the AFC. For a fanbase that has endured years of frustration, the promise of a brighter future is a welcome change, even if the road ahead remains challenging. The Jets are not yet a finished product, but the combination of emerging stars, veteran leadership, and strategic planning suggests that better days may be on the horizon. As the team continues to develop and refine its identity, the hope is that this current iteration of the Jets will be the one to finally turn the page on a long chapter of disappointment and usher in an era of sustained success.

Read the Full USA Today Article at:
[ https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2025/07/16/jets-future-promising-garrett-wilson-sauce-gardner-contracts-joe-douglas/85244084007/ ]