Former MVP not yet ready to crown Jets as division champs

When the New York Jets acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers days before the NFL Draft, the team’s Super Bowl odds improved drastically, jumping from +2500 to +1400 — sixth-best in the NFL, according to OddsChecker.

However, former league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson is not among those drinking the Jets’ Kool-Aid. In fact, Tomlinson believes New York may not even be the best team in its division.

“I’m not ready to say the Jets are ready to eclipse the Buffalo Bills,” Tomlinson said during a recent appearance on NFL Total Access. “I’m a huge (believer) in chemistry. …The Bills have been battle-tested, they have been through some tough games, some rigorous losses like losing to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. All that stuff has built character. Where with the Jets right now, they still need to go through these types of things, they need to build that chemistry.”

The Jets were nearly a playoff team last season while cycling through three different quarterbacks. The team was 7-4 through the first 12 games of the campaign before ending the year on a six-game losing streak which coincided with the benching of QB Zach Wilson, who had posted a 5-4 as the starter.

New York has invested heavily in offense after finishing with the fourth-best defense in the league this past season. In addition to trading for Rodgers -- a four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowler, as if it needed to be said -- the Jets signed receivers Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb. The organization also selected offensive lineman Joe Tippmann and Carter Warren (plus running back Israel Abanikanda and tight end Zack Kuntz) during last week's draft.

The revamped Jets roster has its work cut out in trying to dethrone the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins in the AFC East. Both teams finished ahead of New York in the division standings last year while ranking in the top six in total offense.

Buffalo added more offensive firepower in their own right this offseason, drafting tight end Dalton Kincaid and signing running back Damien Harris and kick returner Deonte Harty, while Miami has bolstered its defense by trading for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, signing linebacker David Long Jr. and picking cornerback Cam Smith in the second round of the draft.