Division Status: New England Patriots

Edition #657

Good morning! ☕

We’re one week closer to training camp and the excitement is starting to build. I took another look over the roster last night and I have to say, all the pre-season hype is warranted. This is as talented a roster as I can remember. It doesn’t mean it’s all going to go smoothly and we can book our playoff tickets now, but I understand why the Jets are receiving so much love around the league.

We’re still working our way back. England are through to the Euro 2024 Semi-Final so there is a lot of excitement around the country, and England have managed to keep winning while not playing very well, I wonder if the Jets can do that this season. Good teams usually do.

🟢 Here is a quote from Aaron Rodgers on why he’s still playing: "I enjoy being counted out. And like I said, I'm not just trying to coast into irrelevance. I'm trying to play at the highest level," he said. "I was talking to a buddy and I said if I didn't think we could win the Super Bowl and I couldn't win the MVP, then I wouldn't be playing. And that's the order of the goals."

⚪ CBS have ranked Garrett Wilson inside the top-10 wide receivers ahead of the new season: “Wilson's monster season is coming in 2024 if Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy. He's the first Jets player to cross 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two NFL seasons, and he's played with six different quarterbacks! In his second-ever NFL game with Joe Flacco at quarterback, Wilson caught eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Watch that be the norm with Rodgers throwing the rock.”

🟢 The Jets website shared a quote from Nathaniel Hackett on the importance of continuity on the line: "I think you look, as the season goes on, the healthiest teams are usually hitting their stride and doing very well. You have to always plan for that, so the more you can mix and match them just for those instances is very important. But at the same time, the longer you can keep the front five going together, it's always going to build a strong bond."

⚪ Jets writer Eric Allen believes Sauce will lead the Jets in INT’s this year - “I'm going with Sauce Gardner. Gardner has been one of, if not, the best cornerbacks in the NFL over the past two seasons. He didn't have any interceptions last season after 2 picks as a rookie, but he also did not see as many targets. Gardner was targeted 31 fewer times in the 2023 season compared to '22. His coverage may almost be too sticky for quarterbacks to throw his way, but the Jets defense will likely have more passes thrown against it this coming season. With a healthy Aaron Rodgers and improved offense, the defense should be playing with more leads, which would lead to more opportunities for interceptions. Gardner has made it a point to improve forcing turnovers, head coach Robert Saleh has stressed that point, too, and Gardner, a two-time first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler, is uber talented. Like his recent golf addiction, when he puts his mind to it, he sees it through.”

🟢 PFF outlined one offensive player in college football to watch for each team in relation to next years draft and they picked our Quinn Ewers for the Jets. As a Texas fan, you’re not going to hear a single complaint from me: “Aaron Rodgers has one more year on his contract with guaranteed money, although the Jets may have him for another two seasons based on the void years structure. They could go all-in on the winning window, but they would be wise to keep their eyes on the 2025 quarterback class since they might not have to spend an early first-round pick to draft a player with good potential. Ewers is a true gunslinger with a ton of arm talent. While his consistency isn’t at an NFL level right now, it could be by the time Rodgers retires.”

⚪ This isn’t Jets related but it is Quinn Ewers related, Daniel Jeremiah offered up some thoughts on Ewers: “I don't know why Ewers hasn't generated more early excitement and buzz in scouting circles. I was very impressed with his skill set. His performance against Alabama last fall should have answered any questions about his viability as a top NFL prospect. He isn't perfect, but I love his blend of suddenness, aggressiveness and raw talent. When evaluating quarterbacks, I always ask this question: Does this player's toolbox expand the playbook or limit it? I believe Ewers allows creative play-designers/callers plenty to get excited about. He can make every throw from the pocket, he's accurate on the move and he can take the free yards that are offered in the run game.”

It’s a new dawn in New England, Bill Belichick was catapulted into the sunset with a big L from your New York Jets. Not that Bill minds considering what he’s up to at the moment, no more comments from me on that one 😂

In comes Jerod Mayo as the head coach, Eliot Wolf as the General Manager, DeMarcus Covington is your new defensive coordinator and Alex Van Pelt as the new offensive coordinator. Change is a good thing for an organisation after so many years under the same regime, but change also usually takes time.

Many in the NFL expect the Patriots to have one of the worst records in football this season, and one look over the roster will explain why. It has talent, but it has more holes than a delicious block of Swiss Cheese.

New England Patriots

Key Losses

OT - Trent Brown
TE - Mike Gesicki
WR - Devante Parker
LB - Mack Wilson
QB - Mac Jones
DB - Jalen Mills

When you look at that list of players it’s rather uninspiring and it would be easy to say the Patriots didn’t lose a great deal through free agency, but when you don’t have a lot to start with, it’s hard to lose a lot.

Losing Trent Brown is a huge blow to a team who are looking to break in a rookie QB. Brown is a 9-year veteran coming off three good seasons in New England

Gesicki’s one year in New England was a bit of a disaster, the former Dolphin had his lowest catch and reception totals since his rookie campaign and caught just 2 touchdowns all season. Like Brown, he signed for the Bengals and if were to have a career year this year, nobody would be surprised.

Parker failed to bring in a touchdown last year for the first time in his career, Mac Jones was awful and while Mack Wilson and Jalen Mills were decent role players, they weren’t starters and the Patriots should be able to find replacements for them without too many issues.

Like I said, they didn’t lose a lot because they didn’t have a lot…but Trent Brown is a big miss.

Key Additions