Well the final domino has fallen and landed in the New York Jets back field. Running back Delvin Cook, has signed with the Jets on a one year deal, worth up to $8.6 million dollars. After the back and fourth around the rumor mill, the Jets have solidified their backfield with another premium running back. They have made significant upgrades to this roster this offseason and here is how they stack up against their Week 1 roster of 2022 - @Connor_J_Hughes
But like every off season, these moves look good on paper, but can the team perform up to their expectations. Still a lot of question marks surrounding their offensive line.
The New York Jets running back room is nearing full strength. The team activated second-year star Breece Hall off the physically unable to perform list, less than a day after New York added veteran Dalvin Cook. I think bringing in Cook is a move the Jets needed to make, and do not make happen if they had not added Aaron Rodgers. With the Patriots signing Zeke Elliott, and the Dolphins in pursuit of Cook, the Jets were put in a position to make the move and sign Cook.
The last thing you need is a divisional rival to snatch up one of the best free agent options for the RB position especially with Breece Hall coming off ACL surgery.
Between Rodgers age and point of his career, the holes to fill in their OL, and another concern is Cook's career has been dotted with injury problems. As he played in just 15 games over his initial two seasons. However, it's notable that he played in all 18 of Minnesota's games in 2023 (including playoffs), marking the first time he played a full season. Though Cook's yards per attempt (4.4) were a career low, he still proved to be every part a multi-tool back, able to hit a home run, grind out the hard yards and lend helping hands out of the backfield.
I'm not sure the Jets did enough this offseason to give themselves a great chance of protecting Rodgers. On paper, they have options: They can sort through Duane Brown and 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton at tackle, have 2021 first-rounder Alijah Vera-Tucker and Laken Tomlinson at guard, and sport a veteran center in former Broncos lineman Connor McGovern. With Billy Turner as their swing tackle and rookie second-round pick Joe Tippmann on the interior, there's a scenario in which they feel great about their line.
Comments