Aaron Rodgers' Jets OL Ripped by NFL Exec After 2023 Struggles: 'They're Terrible'

One NFL team executive summed up how a lot of people felt about the New York Jets' offensive line in 2023.

A personnel exec told ESPN's Rich Cimini the unit was "terrible."

"They've got to get into free agency," they said. "They don't need stars, they just need solid guys — tough guys, high-IQ guys. They need to sign a couple of those players for B money, not A money. Everywhere else, they're fine. It's easier to fix one thing than three things."

Before Aaron Rodgers was lost for the season with a torn Achilles in Week 1, the offensive line was cited as perhaps the biggest question mark facing the team. Injuries then forced head coach Robert Saleh to utilize a number of different combinations along the five-man front. The end result was New York tying for fourth in sacks allowed (64).

Even if Rodgers had stayed healthy, the Jets' pass protection may have been their undoing one way or the other.

In addition, Cimini detailed how the issues predate 2023:

"Since 2020, the Jets rank 29th in sacks allowed (tie), 26th in pass block win rate, 20th in yards per rush and 32nd in run block win rate, per ESPN Stats & Information data. Over that same span, which covers 67 games, they have started 37 combinations — a staggering lack of continuity that no doubt has contributed to the struggles."

Looking ahead to the offseason, the Jets face two problems. The offensive tackle and offensive guard markets aren't exactly robust in free agency, and New York is only projected to be $7.6 million under the cap in 2024.

The NFL draft presents a more cost-effective way to address the situation. Georgia tackle Amarius Mims was the choice for the Jets at No. 10 overall in Bleacher Report's most recent mock.

Cimini noted, however, 2013 third-round pick Brian Winters is the last offensive lineman New York drafted who wound up signing a second contract with the team. Mekhi Becton, the No. 11 selection in 2020, could continue the trend as he enters unrestricted free agency.

Maybe marginal gains — signing veterans for "B money" — is all that's required to make a meaningful upgrade on the line. For the Jets' sake, that better be the case.