These are some really solid moves to further support an Aaron Rodgers-led offense. The New York Jets have added key weapons to their offense in Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman as they continue to negotiate with the Green Bay Packers for Aaron Rodgers.
If the Jets wanted to make Rodgers feel as comfortable as possible when he eventually arrives in the Big Apple, then they are doing just that.
Signing longtime Packers WR Allen Lazard to a 4-year, $44M contract a few weeks ago and now signing 2X Super Bowl winning WR and one of Patrick Mahomes favorite targets Mecole Hardman to a 1-year, $6.50M deal today were two great additions, even if it did come at the price of Elijah Moore as he was traded to the Browns for a 2023 2nd round pick for cap space.
Sure, neither Lazard nor Hardman have the potential and career longevity that Elijah Moore, a 2021 2nd round pick by the Jets, offered the franchise, but these two come with something far more valuable in the short term: experience and winning nuance.
Lazard has been with Rodgers and the Packers organization for the entirety of his 5-year NFL career and has experienced what creates a winning culture, while Mecole Hardman has spent the last 4 years with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and has won two Super Bowls (SB 54 and SB 57).
Reversely, Elijah Moore has been on a team that has had Zack Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White all running the offense at one point or another, while the Jets have gone 11-23 in those two years. To put it lightly, Moore wasn’t exactly contributing all that much to the Jets winning cause, but I can’t blame him for the team’s horrible record as he was only one of the receivers catching a pass from the Three Stooges.
Nonetheless, bringing in two receiver who have made a real impact in the NFL and been on winning teams will surely make it easier for Aaron Rodgers to settle down and adjust to life in New York as a member of the New York Jets.
I don’t want to sound like Captain Obvious, but going from Green Bay, Wisconsin to New York City, New York (well, more like East Rutherford, New Jersey, but you get the idea) is a massive culture shock that will affect even the most charismatic, talented QBs. The New York market simply has a much louder voice due to its mega-volume sized appeal and the actual size of the population (there’s app. 20M people in New York) than Green Bay, Wisconsin (app. 100k people live in the Wisconsin city).
So, as long as the Jets bring in another tight end or two (preferably Marcedes Lewis and one of the top TE prospects in the draft) and can actually secure this Rodgers trade, I think the Jets will put themselves in prime position to win the AFC East.
Obviously, the Bills and the Dolphins will give them some pushback for the AFC East crown, but none of those teams have the defensive capabilities or the offensive weapons the Jets will have if they secure Rodgers and a few more TEs.
But, seeing how this is the Jets we’re talking about, I wouldn’t put it past them to fumble this deal and Rodgers ends up getting traded somewhere else. It’s not likely to happen, but it definitely is something only the Jets could stupidly pull off.
Am I wrong?
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