When Aaron Rodgers signed with the New York Jets, it wasn’t the only team that would take the 39-year-old quarterback. He had options and he chose the Jets because of their coaches and their young players.

Rodgers is the most important player to wear a Jets uniform in years, perhaps decades. With the ineptitude we have already seen in Zach Wilson, it is a safe bet that if Rodgers were to miss any significant time the Jets playoff hopes would be next to nil.

While Rodgers is the most important player on the Jets team, he isn’t the ONLY important player on this Jets roster. There are several other players who could cause big problems for the Jets if they were to miss any significant time.

Here is a list of the players, outside of Aaron Rodgers, who are most important to the success of the 2023 Jets and they can’t afford to lose for an extended period of time.

Most Important Jets Besides Aaron Rodgers

5. Sauce Gardner

Sauce is on this list because of his skill rather than his competition. Sauce has shown to be an elite talent in his first season and all indications are he isn’t slowing down in his sophomore season.

For as good as he is, the Jets are pretty deep at the corner position. DJ Reed is possibly one of the most underrated players not just on the Jets but perhaps in the NFL.

Michael Carter II is an above average slot corner and Bryce Hall is better than average depth at the position. The Jets would certainly miss Sauce’s presence on the field, but there would be enough depth to not sink their defense.

4. Alijah Vera-Tucker

The Jets offense line is their Achilles heel so far this off season, but that is mostly on at the tackle position. The interior has been stout and that is anchored by AVT.

AVT offers the Jets something that no other player on the offensive line can offer: versatility. AVT played tackle in college and played very well in spot duty last season when he was put at both the left and right tackle spot.

AVT played 232 snaps last season at right guard, 130 at right tackle and 70 at left tackle last season before tearing his triceps and being placed on IR. Despite being shuffled around on the line, he posted a PFF grade of 71.8. That’s good enough for top 16 in the league in only his sophomore season.

If AVT were to miss significant time for the second time in as many years, the Jets already questionable offensive line would have their 39-year-old QB running for his life on nearly every snap.

3. Garrett Wilson

The Jets already got a scare this training camp with the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year when Wilson went down with an ankle injury early in camp. Thankfully for the Jets, it wasn’t a serious injury.

Wilson is a true bona fide number one wide receiver. He was likely one of the main draws for Aaron Rodgers to come the New York Jets. While the Jets were able to add some nice pieces to the receiver room, Wilson is the true matchup nightmare for opposing defenses will draw double coverage and the opposition’s best corner.

Without Wilson in the lineup the Jets offensive weapons are okay. Corey Davis and Allen Lazard have already proven that they are not number one wide receivers but can work well as twos or even threes. Hardman is a deep threat and gadget guy while Randall Cobb is Rodgers’ security blanket.

The truth is most of them will see decent numbers because of the presence of Wilson on the outside. His route-running is well beyond a player who is only entering his sophomore season and his hands are reliable.

2. Duane Brown

This is the world we are currently in which we currently live and it is not pretty for the Jets on offense.

Brown may be 37-years-old and on the decline, but he is a much better option at left tackle than what the Jets currently have on their roster. Billy Turner is more of a journeyman swing tackle at this point and Max Mitchell is still raw. Both guys are better suited for the right tackle position.

Mekhi Becton is an IR trip waiting to happen. The man showed some decent flashes three years ago and the Jets have been waiting on him ever since. I trust the 37-year-old coming off a major shoulder injury far more than I trust a guy like Becton.

The fact is that Aaron Rodgers is older and far less mobile than he used to be. He can sting sling the football around, but its much more likely to come from the pocket. The left tackle is the second most important position on the offense and without Duane Brown, the options are atrocious at best.

The Jets need Brown to be ready for the start of the season and reports are that he should be. While I believe Aaron Rodgers should play at least a little in the preseason, I wouldn’t put him out there behind this offensive line if I didn’t have to.

1. Quinnen Williams

The Jets defense is a beast. We know this. They finished top five in almost every major category last season and expect to do much of the same in 2023. And the key to that defense is Quinnen Williams.

This stat is mind-blowing when you think about how important Q is to the success of the Jets defense. Over the last two seasons, the Jets rank first in the NFL with an 8.1 percent sack rate when Williams is on the field. When he's off the field, the Jets plummet to an abysmal 3.4 percent sack rate, which ranks 31st in the NFL.

This means the Jets have the best pass rush in the league when Williams is playing and essentially the worst pass rush when he's not on the field. A player's value doesn't get much clearer than that. Simply put, Williams makes everyone around him better and makes the defense go.

The Jets didn’t add much to the defensive tackle position this off season. They brought in big veteran Al Woods who will certainly help clog up the run game and Quinton Jefferson who is more of a pass rush specialist from the inside.

Other than resigning rotational player Solomon Thomas, the Jets defense is stout up the middle because of one man: Quinnen Williams. The Jets had two major goals this offseason, upgrade at QB and keep Quinnen Williams in Gotham Green. They were able to sign Williams to a four-year $96 million extension.

While the Jets offense will be at worst watchable this season with the addition of Aaron Rodgers, the Jets defense will still be the unit that makes them a playoff contender. With atrocious QB play last year the Jets defense managed to drag this team to seven wins. 

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