When future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers made his way to the New York Jets, the Tri-state area was filled with excitement, as the Jets appeared to have put together a team to remember.
But when Rodgers tore his Achilles in their very first game of the season, it looked like the season would be one to remember for all the wrong reasons.
Yet somehow, the Jets currently have a 4-3 record, and after upsetting the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago, they’re riding a three-game winning streak. Replacement QB Zach Wilson isn’t playing well and isn’t the long-term solution under center, but maybe, just maybe, New York has a shot at making the playoffs.
There have been multiple trade rumors surrounding the team. At least one of those rumors have had them going out and getting a veteran upgrade at QB, such as the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins, but their offensive line could also use an upgrade. Unfortunately, the Cousins rumors are gone due to his Achilles tear.
To that end, Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated suggested the team give up their third and fifth-round draft picks in 2024 to obtain offensive tackle Garett Bolles from the Denver Broncos.
“Regardless of whether they feel they are competitors right now, they are going to need a younger anchor tackle for the future, and perhaps even sooner if Aaron Rodgers decides to make a late-season comeback,” wrote Orr. “Mekhi Becton will be a free agent after this year and is really just an Elmer’s glue piece at this point while the Jets bide their time. The entire unit has been decimated by injury, with both Duane Brown and Alijah Vera-Tucker landing on IR. Bolles, who reshaped his career after a rocky start, has grown into one of the better tackles in the league.”
Bolles was the No. 20 pick in the 2017 draft for the Broncos, and he has survived some rough years in Denver. Denver is in the midst of yet another rough campaign, and many believe it will be a seller ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline.
Although many felt the Jets had Super Bowl potential coming into this season, some were very concerned about their offensive line. Perhaps trading for Bolles could serve as a prelude to becoming a quality team in the near future, whether it happens with a fully recovered Rodgers or a younger successor.
For now, the Jets are winning the old-fashioned way, and with some young and promising talent on both sides of the ball, they shouldn’t be taken lightly or dismissed as a pushover team. Making a move with the Broncos could be a big step in the right direction for the future.
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