The Jets finished 7-10 for the second straight season.
Although they won on Sunday and ended their losing streak against the Patriots at 15, it was another disappointing year as they missed the playoffs with a batting average below .500.
When they lost Aaron Rodgers, they knew it was going to be a tough four plays.
The offense never materialized, but the defense did its best to carry the team.
The main reason this team was able to even win seven games was defense.
After all, the same coaching staff will return next season in hopes that the return of Aaron Rodgers will end the longest playoff drought in America's major sports leagues.
Robert Saleh and his 18-33 record will be another challenge.
Nathaniel Hackett will get another chance to run the offense while hoping Rodgers is healthy at quarterback.
However, mulligans will no longer be taken after the 2024 season.
If the Jets don't make the playoffs, pink bills will be handed out in January 2025 in Florham Park, New Jersey.
It's a big offseason for Gang Green.
You could also argue that it's the most important offseason in franchise history considering how close they are to greatness.
The Jets don't need a ton of players, but they do need some pieces, especially on offense.
General manager Joe Douglas is putting a lot of pressure on him to get this right.
Douglas will have to acquire a No. 2 wide receiver to play opposite Garrett Wilson.
Whether it's a trade for Davante Adams (No. 17 is currently available) or a free agent like Mike Evans or Tee Higgins, Rodgers needs another playmaker.
Douglas has to fix this offensive line.
He needs at least two new starting offensive linemen.
Mekhi Becton probably won't return, but we'll see.
They need to pick a spot on the right side, likely to tackle Aliyah Berra-Tucker.
Joe Tippman is your center.
That means a right guard and a left tackle are likely, and one of them could come with the No. 10 pick in the NFL Draft.
The GM also needs to bring in a veteran backup QB to replace Zach Wilson.
The Jets could potentially have to acquire a starting safety, another defensive lineman and overall depth.
They must also bring back kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter Thomas Morstead.
The Jets' special teams unit has become much stronger with these two players.
As Brian Costello, co-host of the podcast “Gang's All Here,” likes to say, this is not a “Noah's Ark” offseason.
The Jets don't need two of everything.
They have the essential pieces: an elite defense, a Hall of Fame QB, and star playmakers in Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.
Now they need finishing pieces.
There also needs to be a coaching staff that has done something terrible and even been subtly called upon by the players to reflect and improve.
Garrett Wilson saying he needs to make “better in-game adjustments” is proof that Hackett and offensive coaches Keith Carter and Todd Downing will do a better job.
Robert Saleh needs to be better.
He has to become a better in-game coach, especially in time management.
This is a collective effort.
If all goes well and they stay mostly healthy, the 2024 Jets could be a playoff team.
This could be a team that can make it to the playoffs.
The Jets are on the brink of becoming a contender, but it's still early days and they need to be ready to make that happen.
Can Douglas, Saleh, Woody Johnson, and the rest of the Jets' staff right the ship?
Let's check it out.
You can listen to the season finale of the “Gang's All Here” podcast with Koz and I above, watch it above, or subscribe and listen below. Thank you, Jets fans, for tuning in throughout the season. He is scheduled to return for the free agent pod in March.
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Subscribe to listen to every episode of the New York Jets podcast “Gang's All Here.” podcast of apple podcast, spotify Or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Coz and Jake on Twitter @BrianCoz and @JakeBrownRadio.
