The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams—including why you should or shouldn’t be rooting for them this season—in the month leading up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 10. Today, the New York Jets.
Last year’s record: 4-12 
Head coach: Todd Bowles
Core players: Darrelle Revis (CB), Muhammad Wilkerson (DT), Brandon Marshall (WR), Geno Smith (QB)
2015 is about… Returning to respectability. Under former GM John Idzik, the New York Jets were the dictionary definition of dysfunctional. Idzik brought in players that didn’t fit the coaching staff and was too risk-averse in free agency, which caused key players to leave and left massive holes on the club. Given the mess, it was no surprise the Jets finished 4-12 last season, ultimately costing Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan their jobs.
In the off-season the Jets brought in GM Mike Maccagnan, the long-time Houston Texans personnel man, and head coach Todd Bowles, one of the league’s hottest candidates thanks to his time co-ordinating the Arizona Cardinals’ defence. Given the lack of talent they inherited, the pair could’ve taken a long-term approach to rebuilding, but instead they acted aggressively and made several splashy acquisitions to boost the roster.
Still, the Jets have significant questions at quarterback. The club brought in veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to compete with incumbent Geno Smith, but now the Jets won’t even have Smith for 6-8 weeks after he suffered a broken jaw in training camp when he was sucker-punched by a teammate in the locker room. (Nope, that’s not a typo.)
They lost… There wasn’t much to be desired from last season’s Jets roster so the team’s personnel losses were minimal. Michael Vick (QB), who backed up Smith last season, remains unsigned after his contract expired. The club also cut ties with Chris Johnson (RB), after he finished the 2014 season with career lows in rushing yards (663), carries (155) and receptions (24).
The team did suffer one significant blow as star defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson received a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy and that number could grow following a charge in mid-July for resisting arrest and multiple traffic violations.
Yeah, but they got… The Jets quickly turned one of the most depleted secondary units into one of the deepest in the league by signing cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine in free agency. Revis, who spent 2007–2012 with the Jets, is the most accomplished cornerback over the last decade and remains one of the best defensive players in the league. He re-unites with Cromartie, a former teammate who was largely impressive under Bowles in Arizona last season.
The team also boosted the receiver group, trading a mid-round draft pick to acquire Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears. Marshall, who has 31 receiving touchdowns over the past three seasons, is coming off an injury-plagued 2014 campaign but the Jets believe he still has enough in the tank for another 1,000-yard season. Given Marshall’s explosive personality, his relationship with the eventual starting QB is worth closely monitoring.
Growing from within: As mentioned above, the Jets struggled to develop players over the past few seasons so it will be fascinating to see how a pair of highly drafted players from last season perform under a new coaching staff. The club’s first-rounder last year, Calvin Pryor (S), dealt with injuries and poor play in his rookie season, causing the club to bench him last November. After adding Marcus Gilchrist to play free safety, he will return to his natural strong safety position.
Another player to watch is tight end Jace Amaro, who made just 38 catches in his rookie season. He will transition to the H-back position in Gailey’s scheme, allowing him to move around the formation to create mismatches with his six-foot-five frame.
Why this team? By tightening up the secondary with Revis and Cromartie, the Jets should have one of the league’s best defences again. The team already boasts an elite-level defensive line and have 2015 first-round pick Leonard Williams to pick up the slack during Richardson’s suspension. On offence, the addition of Marshall doesn’t just give the Jets a proven playmaker, but it pushes Eric Decker back down to his natural No. 2 position on the outside. The Jets are much improved on paper.
Why not? Despite all the promising moves, they still don’t have a legitimate quarterback. To add context, Smith was ranked dead last out of 32 projected starters in an ESPN.com poll of NFL insiders, and he was the best option they had getting his jaw broken. Other than that, they’re the Jets, so you just assume something terrible is going to happen.
Perfect for fans of… The Toronto Maple Leafs. Sorry, Jets. New York undoubtedly has a better current roster, but the history of the franchises is quite similar. Neither has won a championship since the ’60s, and both probably get too much media attention due to their big markets. At least both teams appear to be heading in the right direction with new leadership and new coaches.
How much hope? 5/10. They’ll be a competitive team that’s tough to play against. That’s a staple of Bowles’s teams, but it’s too just tough to count on a roster with the Jets’ quarterback situation.
Will you be mocked for front-running? Maybe not for front-running, but you’ll almost definitely be mocked for picking the Jets as a favourite team.
Meme to remember: Marshall hasn’t been the best locker-room presence over his career.
