NY Jets: 5 observations on the team's latest roster rebuild

NY Jets offensive line

The Jets' offensive line is a mess that remains unrepaired. General manager Joe Douglas focused this offseason on improving a unit that thus far has neither provided pass protection nor opened rushing holes.

Zach Wilson is an unexciting young prospect. But it is impossible to ask him to hang in there if he keeps getting drilled, time and time again. He withstood six sacks, and god knows how many hits.

This offensive line never played a snap together before Sunday. Alijah Vera-Tucker, considered the best guard prospect in this year’s draft, made his first-ever start, including preseason, and got abused up the middle. 

George Fant and Morgan Moses — the best two tackles in training camp — started slowly after Mekhi Becton got carted off the field, although the veterans did begin to gel after halftime.

And while there’s time to turn things around, center Connor McGovern, in his second season, feels like this franchise’s worst signing since Ryan Kalil. 

Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades player performances on a 100 scale, meaning anything below a 60 is a failing score. None of the six linemen employed by this franchise ranked above 67.0 on Sunday (Becton 66.4, Moses 65.9, Fant 61.6). In other words, the Jets’ line is not up to pro standards. 

The Jets losing 19-14 proves that an NFL team must score at least three touchdowns per game to win. But achieving that level of execution begins with competent offensive line play.