Joe Tippmann emerging as NY Jets' latest star center after hot start to 2024

The NY Jets have a long history of excellent starting centers and Joe Tippmann is well on his way to becoming the next player to join the franchise's illustrious list of standouts.

The former second-round pick has anchored a revamped Jets offensive line in 2024 and has arguably been the team's best offensive lineman through three weeks. The second-year breakout season is well underway.

Tippmann's 82.9 Pro Football Focus grade ranks third among all qualified centers in the NFL at the time of writing. He's allowed just two pressures on 109 pass-block snaps and is one of only two centers to receive a PFF pass-block and run-block grade north of 80.0.

Tippmann showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie, and now with a proper supporting cast around him, the former Wisconsin standout is putting together an All-Pro-caliber second season at just 23 years old.

NY Jets' Joe Tippmann is on pace for an All-Pro season in 2024

A second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Tippmann entered his rookie season competing with Connor McGovern for the starting center job. While he didn't win the job coming out of the summer, it wouldn't take long for him the see the field.

Tippmann would be inserted into the starting lineup in just the third game of the season, filling in at right guard before sliding over to center following McGovern's season-ending injury.

Tippmann spent much of the summer bouncing between guard and center, played multiple different positions in the regular season, and was forced to play alongside a rotating cast of practice squad offensive linemen due to a slew of injuries.

That's not even considering the abysmal quarterback play he was saddled with, another challenging task for a rookie center. It was a near-impossible situation, but Tippmann still showed signs of growth as the year went on.

Tippmann allowed a pressure rate of just 3.3% from Weeks 9-18 in 2023, ranking 13th among 31 qualified centers. Over the final five weeks of the season, Tippmann's 71.9 PFF run-blocking grade ranked 11th out of 32 qualifiers.

That's especially impressive given his atrocious supporting cast. Tippmann showed steady signs of improvement in his rookie season, and with a bolstered offensive line around him and a Hall of Fame quarterback under center, he's taking that second-year leap.

While much of the offseason attention went to the Jets' new additions of Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, and John Simpson, Tippmann's breakout is proving to be the difference-maker on the offensive line.

More NY Jets news and analysis: