5 more former teammates Aaron Rodgers could recruit to NY Jets in 2024

The NY Jets made it pretty clear last offseason what their roster-building strategy was going to be in the Aaron Rodgers era. Sure, the team will prioritize adding players that could legitimately help on both sides of the ball, but if Rodgers wants his team to pursue someone, they're going to do it.

That doesn't mean it's always going to work. Rodgers pushed for the Jets to sign Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency last offseason, only for the Baltimore Ravens to outbid them. The Jets were still interested, though.

Rodgers prioritized bringing in a host of former teammates from Green Bay, with the likes of Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Billy Turner, and Tim Boyle all following him to New York. They might not be the only ones.

Don't be surprised if the Jets target a few other former Rodgers teammates again this offseason. Here are five possible options.

5. The NY Jets could trade for Davante Adams

Let's get this one out of the way first. The Jets have long been connected to rumors surrounding Davante Adams ever since the team traded for Rodgers last offseason.

There was a point in time when it almost felt inevitable that Adams would reunite with Rodgers in New York. Those days feel like a long time ago, however. The Adams pipedream might be dead for the Jets.

Adams seems happy in Las Vegas with Antonio Pierce in charge. Rumors of him requesting a trade have subsided, and it seems likely that he'll remain with the Raiders for at least another year.

The Jets will make an effort to trade for Adams if he does become available, but I wouldn't count on this happening. Nonetheless, the Rodgers connection at least makes it a possibility.

4. The NY Jets could sign OT Yosh Nijman

The Jets will undoubtedly be in the market for offensive line help this offseason. While the 2024 NFL Draft presents an obvious opportunity for the team to upgrade at that spot, the Jets could make some moves in free agency as well.

One under-the-radar player the Jets could target is Packers swing tackle Yosh Nijman. The former undrafted free agent has started 22 games over the last four seasons with the Packers, 13 of which came in 2022.

Nijman has experience playing both left and right tackle and would give the Jets a reliable third offensive tackle on their roster. He probably shouldn't be entrusted in a starting role, but he'd be an instant upgrade over the likes of Billy Turner and Max Mitchell.

Rodgers spent a few years playing with Nijman in Green Bay, and the latter also has experience working with Nathaniel Hackett. That makes him an obvious target for the Jets in free agency.

3. The NY Jets could sign S Darnell Savage

The Jets will need to figure out a game plan for their safety position this offseason. Jordan Whitehead, Chuck Clark, and Ashtyn Davis are all set to hit free agency, and it's unclear which of them (if any) the team will attempt to bring back.

It might make sense to move on from Whitehead and look for an upgrade in free agency, and Darnell Savage fits that mold. The former first-round pick is coming off likely the best season of his NFL career in 2023.

Savage finished with an excellent 75.5 Pro Football Focus grade that ranked 15th out of 95 qualified safeties. This came one year after he ranked 87th out of 88 qualified players at his position, prompting the Packers to decline his fifth-year option.

Savage makes sense if the Jets aren't looking for an expensive upgrade at the safety position. He's still only 26 years old and likely won't cost the team much.

2. The NY Jets could sign RB A.J. Dillon

One of the sneakier needs for the Jets this offseason is the backup running back position. Breece Hall returned from a torn ACL in 2023 and established himself as one of the best running backs in football, but the Jets are still searching for answers behind him.

Dalvin Cook was a disaster, and rookie Israel Abanikanda didn't show much in his limited playing time. The Jets will be searching for a new RB2 this offseason, and A.J. Dillon is the exact type of player they should be targeting.

At 6-foot, 247 pounds, Dillon is a powerful, bruising back who excels in short-yardage situations. That would make him the perfect complement to Hall in the Jets' backfield.

Dillon spent four years in Green Bay, crossing paths with both Aaron Rodgers and Nathaniel Hackett. Don't be surprised if the Jets target him this offseason.

1. The NY Jets could sign OT David Bakhtiari

This will be a contentious option for sure, but it's one the Jets might very well pursue. When healthy, David Bakhtiari has been one of the best left tackles in the NFL for quite some time. He also just so happens to be close personal friends with Rodgers off the field.

The issue with Bakhtiari remains his health. The five-time All-Pro has appeared in just one game in two of the last three seasons. He hasn't played more than 12 games in a season since 2019 as a result of two separate knee injuries.

It would be difficult to justify relying on Bakhtiari to stay healthy for an entire season, especially after the offensive line injury woes the Jets suffered in 2023. He's also still under contract with the Packers, although it's widely expected that he will be a cap casualty.

Assuming the Packers do release Bakhtiari, the Jets will immediately become the most logical landing spot for him. They just better have a good contingency plan if they go that route.