Four plays.
Four offensive snaps. That's how long Aaron Rodgers' 2023 tenure with the New York Jets lasted. Jets fans expected fireworks from their new MVP quarterback this year, instead, they got more heartbreak.
This feeling of despair is pretty usual for Jets fans. But, are their Super Bowl chances really dead? I'll break down where the Jets sit, who could take over from Rodgers, and where they go from here.
Jets' Super Bowl Odds Plummet After Rodgers' Injury
Don't expect Vegas to sugarcoat it: Rodgers' season-ending Achilles injury put a real dent in their chances to do anything significant this season.
New York went from an implied 3.85% shot to win the Super Bowl to a 2.44% chance after Rodgers' injury. It may not seem like a big needle mover, but that's going from the same contention tier as the Chargers all the way down to the Packers.
| Odds Market | Preseason | After Rodgers Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl | +2500 | +4000 |
| AFC East Title | +250 | +550 |
| To Make Playoffs | -140 | +210 |
Who Will Take ARod's Spot At QB1?
The Jets were banking on Aaron Rodgers' MVP upside to lift them to the promise land this year. Now, they have to find a new QB1.
All signs point to third-year QB Zach Wilson getting another shot to lead the Jets to the playoffs. But, there'd have to be a major step forward there if the Jets are going to have any success with Wilson at QB.
The 24-year-old is 8-14 all-time as a starter with a career completion percentage of 55.6% and more interceptions than passing touchdowns.
So, if the Jets want to look elsewhere, here are their options:
| QB | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nick Foles | +300 |
| Jameis Winston | +350 |
| Colt McCoy | +400 |
| Taysom Hill | +650 |
| Davis Mills | +800 |
| Cooper Rush | +1000 |
| Matt Ryan | +1200 |
| Teddy Bridgewater | +1400 |
I'd say the best fits are Jameis Winston or Davis Mills. Winston certainly has the upside (he fricking led the league in passing touchdowns a few years ago!) with plenty of interception-based drawbacks.
So, if the Jets just want a reliable, game-manager type to let their rushing game and defense work, Mills could make a lot of sense. I'm not sure the Texans are open to trading C.J. Stroud's backup, but Mills could be a better version of Mike White for this 2023/24 Jets squad if they can pry him away.
What Is New York's Path To 2023 Success?
But really, if the Jets are going to have any success this year, it won't be because of the QB position anymore.
The Super Bowl hopes are probably dead, but this New York team still has the talent in the rushing game and defense to compete for a playoff spot. And for a Jets fanbase that hasn't seen postseason action since 2010, that'd probably be enough.
If you want one betting nugget to take away from this piece, it's that New York Jets UNDERs could be pretty enticing moving forward. With Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook set to carry this offense for the next 16 weeks, and arguably the best defense in football on the other side of the ball, the Jets are built to stop offenses and chew clock — the dream combo for an UNDER better.
