NY Jets 2023 Spring Depth Chart Preview: Quarterback
By Nathan Smith
After decades of struggling at the quarterback position, including a 2022 season that should have resulted in the playoffs if they had anything but the No. 32 ranked QB play, the NY Jets believe they may have finally made the move that gives them elite talent at the position.
With a young group of weapons and a four-time MVP to now lead the way, this is a Jets team that's ready to go on a Super Bowl run. If they are to make that type of leap forward, what do we expect the quarterback position to look like in 2023?
Depth chart
- Aaron Rodgers
- Tim Boyle
- Zach Wilson
- Chris Streveler
What are the pros of the 2023 NY Jets QB room?
Unsurprisingly, the biggest pro of the Jets quarterback room this year is the addition of Aaron Rodgers. He not only gives them a proven winner immediately, but he gives the locker room a leader and someone the fans can look to for hope going forward.
2022 may not have been his best season, as Rodgers dealt with a hand injury and a lack of weapons, but even still, he managed to put up 3,695 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions with a 91.1 passer rating.
If he stays healthy, Rodgers could very well be the best quarterback this franchise has ever seen, and with a young core around him that includes Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and his longtime teammate Allen Lazard, we could be looking at plenty of broken franchise records.
What are the cons of the 2023 NY Jets QB room?
While Aaron Rodgers is a massive upgrade from anything the Jets have had at QB in years, he does come with age, potential off-field drama, and an injury history.
Beyond that, the Jets have Tim Boyle, who has just three touchdowns to eight interceptions in his NFL career, as well as Zach Wilson, who struggled in a big way last year, meaning that unless something drastic changes, an injury to No. 8 could turn the tide of the entire season.
If Rodgers can stay relatively healthy, lack of experienced, proven depth at QB may not be the biggest issue, but with the offensive line's health issues in recent years, the Jets have to be prepared for anything.
Who will be the biggest stud at QB for the NY Jets?
Without a doubt, if the Jets are to even come close to cashing in on their promise of a deep run to the playoffs this year, Aaron Rodgers will need to be the team's biggest stud. If recent history tells us anything, with the weapons the Jets have, that shouldn't be a problem.
In the past five seasons, Rodgers has tallied an average of 4,110 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five Interceptions. While the Jets don't quite have a Davante Adams on this team, they have a plethora of weapons that can contribute at a very high level.
2022 was overall a solid year for the Jets, with the emergence of some big stars for the future, but after coveting him for weeks, even months, Aaron Rodgers is the story now in New York.
Whether he likes it or not, the fate of an entire team and city rests on his shoulders, so he will need to be a stud to cement his legacy among great Jets QBs.
What are the biggest QB storylines to watch for the NY Jets in OTAs and training camp?
Last year, all eyes were on Zach Wilson, and this year, after a disappointing 2022 campaign that saw him benched for both Mike White and Chris Streveler, all eyes will be on him once again — only this time for a different reason.
With Rodgers hopefully locked in for at least the next two seasons, the former BYU standout now has a chance to learn behind one of the greatest players to ever play in the NFL. If he takes this chance with both hands and learns behind Rodgers, we could see a quarterback that's ready to have a long career in the NFL.
Wilson will start as the No. 2 or 3 QB on the depth chart, and after being the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, this could be seen as a major demotion, but if he handles the situation right, the Jets could have their future star quarterback on their hands after all.
Predictions for the 2023 NY Jets QB room?
Many analysts around the NFL have looked at the Jets' addition of Rodgers and done a complete 180 on their coverage of the team, with many predicting New York to have 11 or more wins on the season. Rodgers is obviously the main reason for that.
The team took huge steps forward last year, but Rodgers makes this team elite in the passing game, and with weapons all over the field, there's no reason for Jets fans to expect anything less than 4,000 passing yards with a top-tier TD/INT ratio.
Even at 39 years of age, Rodgers showed in 2022 that he's capable of making some ridiculous throws, and with Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and a deep tight end group, expect to be wowed on a weekly basis, Jets fans.