NY Jets named one of the NFL's most improved teams

Fresh off a disastrous 2-14 season a year ago, NY Jets general manager Joe Douglas knew that changes needed to be made this offseason.

From the coaching staff to the overall roster, a mass overhaul of the organization was necessary to right the wrongs made by the previous regime and set the franchise up for future success.

And now that the dust has settled and the summer is here, it's safe to say that Douglas accomplished what he desired.

The Jets of 2021 look vastly different from the team that took the field less than a year ago. As such, Pro Football Focus recently ranked the Jets as the third most improved team in the entire NFL.

The NY Jets are one of the most improved teams in the NFL.

The only two teams to finish ahead of the Jets on the list were the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. PFF made sure to highlight the Jets' successes in both free agency and the draft to justify their ranking.

Of course, the focal point for that change revolved around the quarterback position.

"The NY Jets cut ties with Sam Darnold and instead will be rolling with Zach Wilson as their new quarterback of the future. Wilson had a PFF passing grade over 95 this past season, the highest we've ever seen in college."

- Sam Monson

The Jets hope that Zach Wilson could be a significant upgrade over Darnold both in the immediate and distant future. And they made sure to add some pieces to help him out as well.

The likes of Corey Davis and Keelan Cole were signed in free agency to bolster what was a lackluster wide receiver room in 2020.

The Jets then added Alijah Vera-Tucker, Elijah Moore, and Michael Carter in the 2021 NFL Draft in an attempt to usher in a new era of young players how inhabiting the offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, the signing of former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson could give the Jets the best pass rusher they've had since the days of John Abraham.

The Jets are expecting big things from Lawson, just as the folks over at PFF are.

"On defense, they may have also signed the best edge rusher they've had on the roster since John Abraham with Carl Lawson starting to fit into Robert Saleh's more aggressive defensive front four after notching 64 total pressures last year."

- Sam Monson

Factor in the coaching staff overhaul and it's easy to see why the Jets have the potential to be one of the most improved teams in football this year.

Is that enough to make them serious playoff contenders? One step at a time. But the Jets of 2021 should be vastly improved from the Jets of 2020.

Given that last season was arguably the worst in franchise history, that should be a pretty low bar to clear.