Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets were handed easy bulletin board material, courtesy of the NFL Top 100.
The New York Jets are pushing all their chips in. The Aaron Rodgers trade cemented the Jets as immediate title contenders, or at least title contender aspirants with the QB star-power necessary to make fans around the NFL believe.
Rodgers will one day have his name enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame. He's perhaps the greatest quarterback talent of his generation, blessed with a singularly powerful arm and improvisation skills the likes of which we haven't seen before or since he took over the starting job in Green Bay.
Find a QB who can think on the fly and adjust in split-second fashion like Rodgers, and your offense is guaranteed a certain level of competency. Find one with Rodgers' arm power during his prime, and you're the Packers with a perennial MVP candidate.
Now, however, Rodgers ages into the twilight of his football career with the Jets. That won't stop folks from placing high expectations on the team. He's still expected to deliver winning results, even at 39 years old. And the NFL may have just handed Rodgers the motivation he needs to achieve those results.
Aaron Rodgers and New York Jets get disrespected in NFL Top 100 ranking
This is admittedly low for a player of Rodgers' stature at his position. Quarterbacks are still the most valuable players in the NFL. No individual position can exert more influence over winning — or losing.
Rodgers has been a winner for virtually his entire career. Last season was a mild exception, of course. The Packers went 8-9 and the offense struggled due to the influx of youth and inexperience around Rodgers. That said, Rodgers has earned the benefit of the doubt, not unlike Tom Brady in his waning years with Tampa Bay. Rodgers isn't necessarily on Brady's level historically or otherwise, but all-time greats with Rodgers' football I.Q. and track record of success should have the opportunity to rebound from a down season.
It probably won't take long to gauge Rodgers' competency with New York. Last season did mark the lowest passing totals of his (healthy) career: 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, which is conversely the second-highest total of his career. He also posted the fewest yards per attempt of his career (6.8), which is a telltale sign of aging at the QB position.
And, despite all of that, Rodgers should probably start the season higher than No. 51, at the very least. Could this ultimately prove to be an appropriate representation of Rodgers' current ability? Sure. If this list was ranking last season's results, rather than projecting ahead, there probably wouldn't be many complaints.
This is a new season, however. Rodgers is with a new team after spending last season vocally displeased with his situation. The Jets have surrounded him with a nice collection of talent. Garrett Wilson is one of the best young receivers in the NFL. Breece Hall can outrun everybody, and he might get to share the backfield with Dalvin Cook.
Simply put, New York has spent the money and hit on the draft picks necessary to sustain a contender around Rodgers. It comes down to whether or not Rodgers can deliver, and there's a general consensus among New York fans and the broader NFL community: he can.
If the Jets make a deep postseason run, this ranking will look foolish. And, even if you're of the belief that it's a fair ranking, it will still serve as more than adequate bulletin board material for Rodgers as he looks to achieve top form once more in the Big Apple.
