Aaron Rodgers is facing some questions heading into his first campaign with the New York Jets, but one former quarterback believes the four-time MVP will have no problem settling in with his new team.
Matt Ryan, who will be working as an analyst for CBS this season, made a bold prediction about Rodgers this week. He said he expects Rodgers to “explode” in Year 1 with the Jets.
“You get a hungry, energized Aaron Rodgers. … I think he’s going to explode in New York this year,” Ryan said.
That is certainly a bold prediction, but Rodgers is just two years removed from winning back-to-back NFL MVP awards. While he had a down season last year with 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, it would be premature to say Rodgers has lost a step.
The big concern for the Jets is their offensive line. That is considered a major weakness for them, which is not ideal when you have to protect a 39-year-old quarterback. There was even talk at one point that the Jets could try to trade for one of Rodgers’ best friends in order to bolster their O-line.
Rodgers will not have to play at an MVP level for the Jets to be a contender. They have a solid defense and were competitive last year despite having virtually nothing at the quarterback position. But if Ryan’s prediction comes to fruition, New York will be very difficult to beat.
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