Jets' Early Report Card for Most Impactful Offseason Decisions

Aaron Rodgers wants to become the quarterback of the New York Jets. He's publicly made it known that he would like to be traded there from the Green Bay Packers. However, at this point, nothing has changed for the 39-year-old QB.

It's going to be hard to judge the Jets' offseason until the Rodgers situation is resolved, one way or the other. If they trade for him, they'll have a four-time NFL MVP leading their offense and will be poised to make tremendous strides in 2023. If they don't, then they'll need to sort out their uncertain quarterback picture.

In the meantime, New York has been making other moves to upgrade its roster. After an improved 2022, the Jets are looking to do enough so that they'll be able to end their 12-year playoff drought during the 2023 season.

Here are some grades for the most impactful decisions New York has made early this offseason.

Lazard Signing Could End Up Paying Dividends

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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 08: Allen Lazard #13 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after a touchdown during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on January 08, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

What better way to make Rodgers feel comfortable if he joins the Jets than by bringing in one of his former wide receivers to throw to? That's what New York did when it signed Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million deal.

It seems like the Jets may have overpaid a bit for Lazard, considering he's never put up huge numbers. Last season, the 27-year-old had 60 catches for a career-high 788 yards and six touchdowns. But there weren't many top receivers on the free-agent market this offseason, so that worked in Lazard's favor.

Lazard could be another solid playmaker in a budding New York receiving corps that already featured youngsters Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore. If Rodgers is throwing them the ball, it should only make the unit even better.

But if the Jets don't end up with Rodgers, the Lazard signing will make less sense. Plus, there's no guarantee he's ever going to have better stats than those he's had with the Packers in recent years, which are not quite what you'd expect from a No. 1 receiver.

Grade: B-

Williams' Return Was Crucial Move for Linebacker Corps

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 08: Quincy Williams #56 of the New York Jets celebrates with Will Parks #39 of the New York Jets after breaking up a pass during the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

No player on the Jets' defense has been more of a surprise the past two seasons than linebacker Quincy Williams. Since New York claimed him off waivers prior to the 2021 campaign, he's recorded 216 tackles in 31 games.

Williams is only 26 and has proven he was overlooked early in his NFL career, when he didn't get much playing time with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2019-20. So it was a great decision by New York to bring him back on a three-year, $18 million deal.

If Williams continues to play at such a high level, then the Jets are getting tremendous value from him. And with New York's defense continuing to improve around him, there's little reason to think he won't.

The Jets could still upgrade their front seven, but it was the right first move to ensure Williams would be back.

Grade: A

Clark Should Be a Great Veteran Presence in Secondary

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 01: Chuck Clark #36 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts during an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Jets acquired Chuck Clark in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens. All they had to part with in order to bring in the 27-year-old safety was a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, too. So there was no risk at all in New York taking a chance on Clark.

After spending his first six NFL seasons with the Ravens, Clark brings a ton of starting experience to the Jets' secondary. He started 49 games over the past three years for Baltimore and is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he recorded a career-high 101 tackles in 17 games.

It's not a sure thing New York is going to hold onto Jordan Whitehead, who could still be a cap casualty this offseason. Now that it has Clark in the fold, it may have the necessary depth to cut Whitehead and still have a solid back of its secondary.

Clark should play valuable snaps for the Jets in 2023, and they barely had to give up anything to land him. Because of that, this could end up being one of their best moves of the offseason.

Grade: A