When you have a top-level defense as the Jets believe they do, you are in every game. Even if Rodgers doesn’t return to some form of the MVP fans are hoping for, the Jets will be competitive in almost every game because their defense has the potential to be stellar.

When playing with a high-level defense, one aspect of the game becomes more important than any other: field position. A great defense can stop most teams from being able to march down the field in bunches and put up points. 

So, while many fans groan that punters don’t matter in the NFL, they absolutely do. If you need a recent example just look at what happened when the Jets punted to Marcus Jones in the closing seconds of the week 11 matchup against the Patriots in Foxboro in a tie game. Punters matter. And the Jets are bringing in a good one for a workout.

According to ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Jets brought in free agent punter Matt Araiza on Wednesday for a workout. 

Araiza has been out of the NFL since being released by the Buffalo Bills last August, just two days after a lawsuit was filed accusing him and two former teammates from San Diego State of being involved in an alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl. Araiza was cleared of criminal wrongdoing. No charges filed. It was later proven that he was not present on the scene when this alleged gang rape occurred.

There is a civil suit pending, which is likely what is keeping most teams away from bringing in the 23-year-old for a job or even a tryout. Araiza said in a recent interview that he would not settle the civil suit and would not waive his right to countersue. 

On the field, Azaria was selected in the 6^th round (number 180 overall) in the 2022 draft by the Bills. He won the starting job in training camp, but never got a chance to play in a regular season game as the lawsuit accusing him went public and he was subsequently cut from the Bills roster.

Araiza become something of social media darling during the Bills preseason and even was dubbed with moniker “The Punt God”. In college he won the Ray Guy award given to the nation’s best punter and was named a unanimous All-American.

The move to bring in Araiza for a workout is a head scratcher when it comes to the Jets, however. They already jettisoned away former starter Braden Mann in order to sign 37-year-old Thomas Morstead to a contract that guarantees him $1.1 million with the potential to make another $200k. As important field position is, no team needs two punters.