The New York Jets enter the 2024 season with high expectations, aiming not just to compete but to contend for the AFC East division title. In my view, they have a real shot. The front office has made commendable efforts to strengthen the trenches, showing a commitment to both immediate success and long-term stability post-Aaron Rodgers.
The most blatant of these moves came both in free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft. Cowboy legend, and all-time great, Tyron Smith signed a friendly one-year deal to lock down the Jets’ blindside. Smith is widely regarded as one of the most impressive pass protectors in this era of football, and if granted good health, will be a cornerstone piece of this offense.
The other move, which might’ve taken some fans by surprise, is the drafting of Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. Fashanu, who could’ve been a first-round pick even if he left a year ago, had a stellar senior campaign and was a massive steal for the Jets. His frame and athleticism are eerily reminiscent of Smith. Putting Fashanu in the room with a guy like Smith will reap massive rewards for his development. Fashanu may not run out there first, but he will absolutely see valuable playing time this year.
Opposite of Smith, is Morgan Moses, who returns to the Jets after a successful stint with the Baltimore Ravens. Moses brings a well-rounded, veteran skill set to the right side of the line and has been a reliable football player for his entire career—starting all but one game he was healthy for since 2014. Between these three tackles, the Jets have a fruitful combination of experience and youth, a recipe for success when it comes to sustaining strong offensive lines.
Another former Raven, John Simpson, was acquired through free agency and looks to lock down the starting left guard spot come fall. Simpson, who was initially drafted in the fourth round by the Raiders in 2020, has steadily made a name for himself early on in his NFL career. Simpson is known for his frequent highlight-worthy plays, being not only a strong pass protector but a weapon in the run game. I fully expect Simpson to outperform his two-year, $12 million contract and enter himself into a conversation for one of the most productive young guards in the league.
Opposite Simpson is 2021 first-rounder Alijah Vera-Tucker. While Vera-Tucker has dealt with position changes and a string of injuries, he is undoubtedly an irreplaceable piece of this offensive line. Barring good health, Vera-Tucker should be playing the best football of his career come fall, especially as he tries to prove he’s worth the big-time contract that his market should demand.
Manning the center position will be former Wisconsin Badger Joe Tippmann. Tippmann was one of the best rookie centers in the league last season and head coach Robert Saleh has raved about his growth throughout his rookie season. It seems likely that Tippmann will be a Jet for a long time; his versatility along the interior of the offensive line allows him to relieve all three spots when needed. Pairing his versatility with the athleticism and strain that got him drafted in the second round adds a really effective layer to this offensive line group.
Another lineman selected in last year's draft, former Pitt Panther Carter Warren, logged more than 400 snaps last season for the Jets, starting in five games. Warren is a versatile, high-upside backup for the Jets currently and someone who they’ll feel comfortable throwing in at right tackle in the potential event that Moses misses any time. A solid backup option with promising upside is the ideal way to stash a good lineman for a long time.
Joining Warren in that second group is Wes Schweitzer, who despite logging 62 starts in his career will be tasked with filling in when needed—the Jets caught a bad case of the injury bug last season. Having the likes of Schweitzer to get you through a game is important, especially when it’s a guy who has starting experience at every interior position.
Lastly, Max Mitchell is an intriguing name. I’m pretty uncertain about how to feel about Mitchell. With more than 800 offensive snaps logged while battling injuries, we have yet to see the best version of Mitchell. The former Ragin’ Cajun can play both guard and tackle, and heading into his third season, he’ll need to make the most of his opportunities. Nonetheless, Mitchell is a capable option, similar to the rest of this second group.
This is a strong group, one of which the Jets can contend with. Between the veteran talent at tackles and youthful but proven interior—along with Fashanu being the icing on the cake—this is a gritty bunch that’s capable of being one of the more well-put-together lines in the league.
