Ultimately, they waited until the fifth round and got Abanikanda, an exciting, explosive, home-run hitting weapon who should contribute right away - and likely even push Carter and Knight to be the No. The Jets were tied to various free-agent running backs this offseason - including Jamaal Williams - and there were rumblings they might’ve drafted Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs at No. It was clear the Jets needed to add a running back to both complement Hall and to potentially fill some of his workload while he recovers from ACL surgery. Running backīackups: Michael Carter, Israel Abanikanda (rookie), Zonovan Knight It’s part of my opportunity here to be a great mentor to him.”įirst, Wilson will have to beat out Boyle - who has played with Rodgers and for offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett already - to be Rodgers’ top backup. “I think being around me and seeing how I go about my business, seeing how I lead, how I interact with the guys,” Rodgers said, “I think there’s some things he can pick off from that. Rodgers said he’d make Wilson’s life “heaven off the field” with a smile, also adding that when he was considering coming to the Jets, he wanted to make sure team brass still believed in Wilson.

Rodgers has made it clear he intends to take Wilson under his wing, even referencing Wilson’s line from the end of the season that he’d “make life hell” for the quarterback the Jets brought in. Just listening, there is little, subtle things I’m not going to get into, but he definitely cares about people and you can tell in the way he speaks to people, so really fortunate that he’s here.” “He’s a tremendous human, first and foremost, Aaron is. “We’re a really, really young team, especially on offense and … he’s already made his presence felt with regards to meetings and input, just discussions on all of the different things we’re trying to get accomplished on offense,” coach Robert Saleh said. Rodgers aced his introductory news conference, stuck around for voluntary offseason workouts and even went to the Rangers-Devils game with Allen Lazard, Breece Hall, Connor McGovern and Boyle on Saturday night.īoys night out 🗽 /TNzEJ3Isre Rodgers is the Jets’ starting quarterback, and the buzz around Florham Park is palpable.

This section can finally be written without any stipulation about how the trade with the Packers still needs to happen.

The Last Human by Zack Jordan