NY Jets: Stealing one player from every AFC East rival

The last few years have seen the NY Jets tear down arguably the worst roster in the NFL and rebuild it into one of the league’s better 53-man units. Their acquisition of four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers has only increased the validity of that statement and added to sky-high expectations for the Jets organization in 2023.

Perpetual cellar-dwellers in the AFC East and a shoo-in for a top-10 slot in the draft over the past decade-plus, the Jets believe they have the ingredients to produce a special season and deliver the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2010. However, while the Jets are confident in their players in-house, we, as fans, will never be satisfied.

In this exercise, we’ll pluck one player from each AFC East division rival and add them to the Jets' roster. To simplify the task, we will ignore all cap implications and focus solely on who I believe would improve the Jets’ standing amongst the AFC’s contenders.

Buffalo Bills: Stefon Diggs (WR)

My initial lean when surveying the Bills’ roster was to address the safety position with Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde. The two veterans are mainstays in one of the league’s elite defenses and would provide leadership and experience to a young, albeit talented secondary.

However, I couldn’t help but imagine what could happen if the Jets added another dynamic weapon to their offense. Enter Stefon Diggs.

The eight-year veteran is one of the premier receivers in the NFL and has played a significant role in Buffalo’s monopolization of AFC East titles in the current decade.

In his three seasons with Buffalo, Diggs has racked up 338 receptions (tied for first amongst receivers in that span), 4,189 receiving yards (fourth), and 29 touchdowns (sixth). Diggs would immediately become the most established receiver to suit up for the Jets since Brandon Marshall almost a decade ago.

Furthermore, pairing Diggs with reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson would give Aaron Rodgers the most talented receiving corps he’s had in his illustrious career. A true all-in move that would surely resonate with the fans and signal that the Jets are not messing around in 2023.