Jets’ Offensive Line Ranked Favorably on Pre-Training Camp List

When you post a 5-12 record, there’s usually more than one reason why you came up well short of your end goal. That was especially true for the New York Jets, as not many parts of their team contributed in a positive way.

On offense, quarterback Aaron Rodgers failed to capture his previous MVP-winning form and running back Breece Hall failed to build on a strong 2023. Their offensive line did them no favors, though. Could that be set to change for Hall and new signal-caller Justin Fields this season?

It’s what Zoltán Buday of Pro Football Focus is banking on. In his July 7 ranking of all 32 NFL offensive lines, Buday slotted the Jets inside the top 10 at ninth overall. Not only that, but he believes there’s some room for in-season growth.

Jets’ O-line Cracks Top 10, ‘Chance to End up Much Higher’

Buday’s analysis indicates that it could all come down to the tackle spot for the Jets.

“The Jets have a chance to end up much higher on this list as the season goes on if their young offensive tackle duo plays up to its potential,” Buday wrote. “The team is turning the page from veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses to first-rounders Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, and one of the league’s top interior offensive lines will anchor the group. Guards John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker both ranked among the 12 highest-graded guards in football last season, and second-year center Joe Tippmann earned a 73.4 PFF overall grade, which placed him eighth among centers.”

Upgrading the bookends of the line should undoubtedly help. Fashanu, the No. 11 overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft, made five straight starts in Weeks 11-16 of last season that will help him as a full-time man in 2025. He’s already getting some serious praise around the league. Opposite him, Membou went seventh overall and is coming off an illustrious career at the University of Missouri. Hopes are high for him to be an impact rookie.

As Buday mentioned, both Simpson and Vera-Tucker (who’s a former tackle prospect) turned in plus 2024 efforts. They shouldn’t be causes of concern this season so long as they’re healthy. In the middle, Tippmann may be viewed as the projected starter but Josh Myers shouldn’t be ignored. He’s providing Tippmann with legitimate competition, so training camp will see the best man win.

Justin Fields & Co. Should Reap Benefits of Improved Line This Season

No source will portray the Jets’ 2024 offensive line as a good one. Some advanced stats are borderline neutral on it, as PFF gave the front the No. 12-ranked run blocking grade and the 16th-ranked pass blocking grade. On film, however, there were plenty of missed assignments and overall confusing moments to choose from. Rodgers seeming afraid of contact as he worked back from an Achilles tear certainly didn’t help. The latter issue improved over the course of the season.

This year, things will look different. Fields is a great fit in a run-heavy offense, which offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand could unleash. Hall and second-year man Braelon Allen give him something to work with. The stars are aligning for an above-average rushing attack.

Passing-wise, there will be some things to monitor. First and foremost, Fashanu must take a second-year leap and Membou can’t struggle as a first-year player. The interior, regardless of who’s snapping the ball to Fields, should be fine given good health. Fields himself might be the X-factor of them all. He’s known to hold the ball for a while and struggle with multi-read throws, so 2025 will surely be a gigantic test.

If Fields does his part and the young tackles carry their weight, this ranking might somehow be looked back on as too low. There’s an unlimited ceiling.

If even one component fails, though, it’ll be laughed at. The floor isn’t ever as high as people think.