The biggest beneficiary of the Jets' offensive overhaul is not who you think

The New York Jets are quietly building what could become one of the NFL’s most formidable offensive lines. While most of the attention is on promising tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, it’s a different young offensive lineman who might end up being the biggest piece of the puzzle.

Third-year center Joe Tippmann was recently named by Pro Football Focus' Dalton Wasserman as one of six breakout candidates among NFL offensive linemen in 2025.

Head coach Aaron Glenn may insist there's a true competition between Tippmann and free-agent addition Josh Myers for the starting job, but most would agree that Tippmann already earned that role with his excellent season a year ago.

If the Jets are serious about leaning into a new identity under offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, it’s Tippmann who could end up anchoring the entire operation. In fact, the Jets' expected offensive scheme could be the catalyst for a Pro Bowl season from the former Wisconsin standout.

Joe Tippmann could be a Pro Bowl center for the Jets in 2025

Tippmann quietly put together one of the better seasons of any young offensive lineman in football last year. After starting his 2023 rookie season at guard out of necessity, Tippmann slid to center midway through the year, and he's improved with every passing game.

His 73.4 Pro Football Focus grade in 2024 ranked 8th among 40 qualified centers, while his 77.3 run-blocking grade ranked 7th among qualifiers. What makes those numbers even more impressive is the dysfunction he operated under.

The Jets' run game was a disaster in 2024, due in large part to former offensive line coach/run game coordinator Keith Carter. Even Aaron Rodgers recently acknowledged how poorly designed the Jets’ rushing attack was last season, according to comments relayed by Mark Schlereth.

Despite that, Tippmann stood out, especially on outside zone runs, which he graded out as the second-best center in the NFL (92.9) since moving to the position in mid-2023, per Wasserman.

The only player ahead of him is Frank Ragnow, the longtime Detroit Lions center who recently retired and played under Engstrand and Ben Johnson. Ragnow was arguably the best center in the NFL before his shocking retirement earlier this month.

That connection is crucial. Engstrand helped design one of the most effective run games in football in Detroit, built around athletic linemen like Ragnow, who could thrive on outside zone runs. If Engstrand brings a similar system to New York, which many expect, Tippmann becomes one of the biggest beneficiaries.

The fit is almost too perfect. At 6-foot-6 with elite mobility for a center, Tippmann’s athleticism was always his biggest draw as a prospect. He now gets to play in a system that plays to his strengths, with a quarterback in Justin Fields who should only further help the team's run game.

He might not receive the same attention as the Jets’ pair of first-round offensive tackles, Fashanu and Membou, but Tippmann could end up as the true focal point of this offensive line.

That's what makes his supposed "competition" with Myers all the more confusing. Myers, signed to a modest one-year, $3 million deal, isn’t expected to be a real threat, but it almost feels disrespectful to pretend he has an actual chance to win the job.

With an offensive scheme tailored to his strengths, Joe Tippmann should be viewed as a prime breakout candidate for the Jets this season. It's likely the best is still yet to come from the young center.

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