Upon becoming head coach of the New York Jets, Aaron Glenn was ready to take on the elephant in the room immediately. In concert with new general manager Darren Mougey, they have told Aaron Rodgers they are moving on from him as their quarterback.
Rodgers is the biggest domino of the Jets' offseason, after which everything else will follow. ESPN Jets' reporter Rich Cimini took a look at that dynamic in a piece over the weekend, in terms of the wide receiver group that became "Green Bay East" at Rodgers' behest and the two who played for the team in 2024 (Davante Adams, Allen Lazard) lined up to be gone like Rodgers.
"Without Adams and Lazard, the Jets would be hurting at receiver. It would leave (Garrett) Wilson, Xavier Gipson and Malachi Corley as the top receivers on the depth chart. The position would be a high priority in free agency and the draft."
The Jets will be reshaping their wide receiver depth chart around Garrett Wilson when Adams and Lazard are gone, as Cimini noted.
Aaron Glenn and the Jets could have another Lions free agent on their radar
As expected, the focus in terms of Lions' free agents who could follow Glenn to the Jets has been on defensive players (Carlton Davis, Levi Onwuzurike, Derrick Barnes). But the hiring of a couple offensive assistant coaches from the Lions' staff fortifies a potential fit on that side of the ball, and Cimini named a name.
"One free agent to watch is Tim Patrick of the Detroit Lions-- an obvious connection to coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand."
After losing two consecutive seasons to major injuries with the Denver Broncos, Patrick was healthy this past season and upon landing with the Lions after roster cuts he proved to be everything they wanted in a replacement for Josh Reynolds (33 receptions for 394 yards, three touchdowns, the third-best PFF run blocking grade among wide receivers with at least 250 snaps). He's also now a free agent of course, and the Lions may want to go younger than the 31-year old at the No. 3 wide receiver role.
Patrick may also want to find a team that can give him a more significant role in the offense than the Lions can. The Jets would seem to fit that bill, aided by familiarity with Glenn, Engstrand and Mougey, who was with the Denver Broncos when Patrick was there.
