The Jets need to rethink how much of an impact Aaron Rodgers has because even he would have struggled in this offense

If it wasn’t obvious in the Jets’ 34-13 loss to the Dolphins on Black Friday, New York’s season is completely over. Aaron Rodgers’ injury early in the season immediately ended their Super Bowl hopes, but they learned something valuable in the process: This team probably wouldn’t have become a Super Bowl contender even if Rodgers could stay healthy all season.

They’re just not that good of an offense – and the moves they’ve made to accommodate Rodgers are a real reason why this offense is completely unwatchable right now. Maybe general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh can survive this season assuming they haven’t seen what this team would look like with Rodgers, but the supporting cast has completely fallen apart.

Wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, running back Dalvin Cook, offensive coordinator Nate Hackett and offensive lineman Billy Turner were all units that had ties to Rodgers or were recruited by Rodgers to join the team. Lazard and Cobb were completely inactive in their Black Friday game after struggling to contribute.

“I will speak for him,” Saleh said, specifically addressing Lazard’s absence. “I don’t think he’s living up to his level and I think everyone on that side of the ball is pushing to try and make something happen,” and there are parts of his game that need to get better.

Aaron Rodgers’ impact on the Jets’ offense can’t last in this clip. (` Photo/Adam Hunger) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Cook was a shell of his former self, averaging just over 3 yards this season. Hackett was unable to give the Jets an advantage in Rodgers’ absence, and Turner released pressure left and right while he was in the lineup.

The Jets are clearly 0-for-5 on these moves, to the point where it’s questionable whether any of them should be part of what the team is building toward in 2024. Rodgers also spent three seasons in Green Bay with Tim Boyle replacing him. Zach Wilson was the starting quarterback on Friday and somehow threw a pick 6 on a Hail Mary attempt.

Even outside of these Rodgers-influenced moves, the Jets still have a lot of work to do to get anywhere next season. The offensive line has shown through injuries this year that it doesn’t have the depth needed to protect a quarterback, and running the ball has also been a struggle, even with a running back like Breece Hall who is proven to be good.

It’s a shame that the offense has reached this level of ineptitude, because the Jets’ defense is still one of the league’s elite units. According to RBSDM.com, the Jets rank seventh in expected points allowed per game (-0.073) and second in success rate (34.5%). Even though they had some weak moments against the Dolphins, this is still a defense capable of supporting a Super Bowl run if only it got some help from the offense. The Jets have spent money and draft picks on this offense that runs out of hope of making an impact every week.

Of course, things should improve if Rodgers is able to fully recover from his ruptured Achilles next season, but at this point in his career and at his age (he turns 40 in early December), there are no guarantees. At the very least, the Jets need to consider the impact Rodgers will have on their rotations next season, since so many of them are actively hurting the team without him on the field. If the Jets actually want to realize their dream of a playoff berth in 2024, they’re going to have to think a little harder about what pieces they add and remove from their roster. If Rodgers is unhappy with some of their moves, that’s just a risk they have to take. The Jets have more to offer than just what Rodgers wants and what he thinks he needs for a successful run.

Something has to change if the Jets want to turn things around, and that will likely mean taking some strength away from Rodgers. You just can’t let yourself stay in this state again and give in to the things he wants because maybe he just doesn’t know what it takes to build a great NFL team. At least they’re not starting from scratch next season, but that’s all the Jets can hope for at this point.