NY Jets offensive line is their biggest red flag entering 2023
By Justin Fried
The NY Jets have put together a roster they believe is worthy of competing with the best of the best in the NFL. Of course, the focal point of said roster is the newly-acquired Aaron Rodgers, but the core of this Jets team expands well beyond their flashy new quarterback.
A dominant defense led by the likes of Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, D.J. Reed, C.J. Mosley, and others is paired with an exciting collection of offensive cornerstones such as Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Alijah Vera-Tucker.
That said, no NFL roster is ever perfect, and the Jets have some potential weak spots that could prove to be an issue in 2023. The most obvious of which is their offensive line.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently put together a list of the biggest red flag for every contending team this season. For the Jets, Benjamin highlighted the volatility of the team's offensive tackles.
"The Jets have been offseason darlings for their newly enhanced weaponry; Aaron Rodgers' arrival should mean an immediate vault into the playoff picture. But going on 40, are we sure the former MVP is well off behind a line touting Duane Brown, 37, coming off injury, and Mekhi Becton, who's played one game the last two years, as its best, most talented tackles?"
- Cody Benjamin
The NY Jets offensive line could let the team down in 2023
The Jets didn't make any high-profile additions to their offensive line this offseason. Aside from the selection of center Joe Tippmann — who isn't even guaranteed to start — in the second round of this year's draft, the Jets are essentially running it back with a similar unit.
The team is banking on a number of players to return from injury and play at a high level. Vera-Tucker missed all but seven games last season. Brown battled through a torn labrum to play 12 games. Becton, of course, missed essentially his second full season in a row.
There are significant durability concerns with both of the Jets' projected starting tackles. Even beyond injuries, there are other questions that need to be answered.
If Brown does start at left tackle, as is expected, will Becton relent and play right tackle? Becton has been vocal about his desire to play left tackle, even blaming the position change for his injury last summer.
Even if he does accept the position change, it's also not a guarantee that he wins the starting job. Veteran Billy Turner and former fourth-round pick Max Mitchell are both very much in the mix to start at right tackle.
There's also uncertainty surrounding the center position. Will the Jets roll with the incumbent Connor McGovern, or will they hand the starting job over to Tippmann? Let's not forget that Laken Tomlinson is coming off arguably the worst year of his career as well.
There are more questions than answers regarding the Jets' offensive line at this time. Sure, if the unit stays healthy and reaches its potential, it has the talent to be one of the better offensives lines in the league.
But there are just too many question marks to feel confident about the Jets' offensive line entering the 2023 season. No position group on the roster is more likely to derail the team's Super Bowl hopes.