Woody Johnson (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
There are several dysfunctional organizations around the NFL, but few (if any) have exhibited the level of incompetence that the New York Jets have showcased over the years.
There have been many questionable calls made by Jets owner Woody Johnson and his front office staff, and the latest one to be revealed just might be the worst of them all. Worse than drafting Zach Wilson and giving up on him after two years. Worse than putting all their marbles on a 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers…
Even worse than trading a third-round draft pick on a washed-up Davante Adams when they were 2-4 on the season and a long-shot to make the playoffs.
According to the report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Jets general manager Joe Douglas had a trade lined up to acquire former Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. The deal would have given the team another young wide receiver to build their offense around, but there was just one issue: His Madden rating was too low for Johnson’s liking.
Seriously. Woody Johnson “did his own research,” which apparently consisted of him firing up his gaming counsel and checking out Jeudy’s Madden rating. And when he noticed the 25-year-old former first-round pick was only an 81 before the start of the 2024 campaign, he nixed the deal.
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Blocking the deal alone wouldn’t have been the worst decision for Johnson and the Jets. After all, Jeudy’s NFL career had been a disappointment up until that point. Had Johnson singled out Jeudy’s inability to gain 1,000 yards in his first four seasons or his reputation for being soft after his public spat with former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith, declining the trade would have seemed understandable.
But vetoing a trade because of a Madden rating? That’s a new one for us.
Jerry Jeudy Is Having A Breakout Campaign In 2024
While the decision offers a bad look at the Jets, it has certainly worked out well for Jeudy.
The 15th overall pick from 2020 has come alive in Cleveland, putting up 1,052 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games thus far. Most of his production has come with Jameis Winston under center. He’s had some monster performances following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury.
Those include games with 142, 235, and 108 yards against the Saints, Broncos, and Chiefs, respectively.
The Browns may have found themselves the number one wideout they’ve been searching for, and they have Woody Johnson’s incompetence to thank for it.
RUMOR: New York Jets Could Make Blockbuster Trade For Young Pro Bowl QB To Replace Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty ImagesAmid a disastrous 2024 campaign in Gotham, speculation has ramped up about the New York Jets potentially moving on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the season.
Aaron Rodgers’ first healthy season with the Jets (he missed all but a few snaps last year with a torn Achilles) has been nothing short of miserable for everyone involved. A team that entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations is 3-8 coming out of their bye week, with GM Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh already being let go.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the four-time league MVP “still wants to play in 2025, just not for the New York Jets.” Russini then floated Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence as a potential trade target for the Jets:
“Replacing Rodgers won’t be easy. The free-agent QB market is lacking, with Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson among the top names — though Wilson is expected to stay with the Steelers and the Vikings could decide to keep Darnold if he’s willing to be a backup.
Justin Fields, Derek Carr (whom the Jets pursued before Rodgers) and Daniel Jones are also potential targets, but none of them stand out as an ideal fit. The Jets could explore trading for Trevor Lawrence or drafting a quarterback, though the 2025 draft class appears weak.”
The Jaguars (2-9) are in the running for the first overall pick in 2025. They handed Lawrence a lucrative $275 million contract extension in the summer despite a disappointing end to the 2023 season, and it’s safe to say the organization is already feeling buyer’s remorse.
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So trading for the 25-year-old Trevor Lawrence and his hefty contract would involve plenty of risk. The 2021 first-overall pick has yet to put together a strong season from start to finish, and it’s not like the Jets have a rich history of drafting and developing young quarterbacks.
Jets & Aaron Rodgers Can’t Run It Back In 2025
Aaron Rodgers has been the popular target of criticism in Jets land, but his season stat line isn’t that bad by any means: A 63.4 completion percentage for 2,442 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions despite playing behind one of football’s worst offensive lines.
But it’s obvious that the marriage between the ageing quarterback (he turns 41 next month) and the dysfunctional Jets isn’t going to work. Quite frankly, nobody (except maybe Davante Adams) should want the Rodgers-Jets partnership to continue next year.
