2023 NFL offseason update
Commissioner Goodell extension awaits, Raiders revamping offense, Rodgers announces next career decision
Not many things are as surprising as some of headlines that come out across the NFL during the beginning of March due to the starting date of free agency bidding. All thirty-two organizations and their front office’s scramble to make the correct adjustments to their rosters in hopes of either rehabilitating a weak locker room or making minor changes to a solid team. The free agency period never fails to shock NFL fans. This year’s market signings are shaping up to be much like the past with franchises making mammoth decisions based on their owner’s ‘win now’ mentality or focused on the future.
Yet, it appears some things stay the same as recent news of NFL’s longtime commissioner, Roger Goodell, will be receiving an extension. NFL inside reporter, Adam Schefter, tweeted on Monday evening that Goodell and NFL owners will reach an agreement next week on a multi-year contract worth up to $63.9 million per year.
Schefter also noted that since Goodell’s hire as NFL commissioner in 2006, the 64-year-old businessman raked in around $500 million, more than any other NFL player in history. The contract signing will take place at the NFL owners-meeting in Phoenix, according to ESPN.
Hopes were beyond high for the Las Vegas Raiders going into the 2022 NFL season after making the playoffs as a wildcard team in their previous season. Raider nation was rejoicing after bringing in a new head coach and general manager in Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler along with key roster pieces such as elite Edge Rusher, Chandler Jones, to help fellow defensive lineman Maxx Crosby get to the quarterback and a top three NFL Wide Receiver, Davante Adams, to reunite with his college Quarterback, Derek Carr.
All that hype came crashing down very quickly after the Raiders fell short on numerous occasions early in the season with multiple games losing by a mere possession. Although it seemed at times that Vegas would bounce back and make a playoff stretch, it never happened. Unfortunately, Carr and the Raiders finished with a 6-11 record while disappointing an entire Raider Nation fan base whose expectations were much higher considering they won more games and reached a wild card spot the previous season with an interim head coach and less talent. The 2022 Raiders season was truly one to forget yet easily fixable with a few changes.
One of these changes being catastrophic as nine-year veteran quarterback, Derek Carr, was released by Las Vegas after only one season reunited with his best friend and favorite wide receiver, Davante Adams. With Carr’s lack-luster performance in 2022, it’s clear McDaniels felt going a different direction better suited the franchise’s future and product on the field next season. This was made clear with the recent signing of former Patriot and 49ers Quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo’s signing comes as no surprise yet the inking of former Raider’s backup, Jarrett Stidham, to the Bronco’s may have pushed the Raiders hand on singing ‘Jimmy G’, considering the state of the market at the time.
Garoppolo’s alliance with McDaniels and Ziegler make this addition a no-brainer due to McDaniel’s need for a quarterback who understands the system coming from a guy whose played under the ‘Patriot way’ and knows what’s expected of him unlike Carr. Derek Carr can be productive for many football teams in the NFL due to his poise, arm talent, resiliency, but the Raiders new regime was looking for someone to play through their head coach which Garoppolo will provide at a high level.
A main concern that presents itself with Garoppolo every season when he steps on the field is the potential to get injured. Despite the undoubtedly successful path Garoppolo has been on since he left New England, has been hampered by numerous injuries halting him from playing full seasons. If Garoppolo can stay healthy, the numbers prove the consistency of wins compared to losses that come with the veteran quarterback. The new addition of wide receiver, Jakobi Meyers, from New England will help Garoppolo find his receivers even easier.
It’s safe to say that New York Jets fans are deprived of successful football considering the team hasn’t reached the post season in 13 seasons. The Jets passing offense struggled yet again in 2022 with inconsistency at quarterback as developing 2021 first round draft pick, Zach Wilson, did not show as much progression as expected along with giving backups, Mike White and veteran Joe Flacco starting opportunities scattered throughout the season. Despite ‘Gang Green’s’, efficient run game and stout defense, the Jets did not have enough offensive firepower to propel them into the offseason. Yet, the team showed fans and ownership the potential of what could be if changes can be made.
On Wednesday, March 15th, Jets fans eagerly tuned into the Pat Mcafee show as common guest and future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback from the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers, joined the show preparing to reveal his future. The four-time NFL MVP had just departed from a darkness meditation period where he thought deeply about what decision works best for his career and gave the guys on the PMS an announcement for the ages. Rodgers fulfilled the hopes of Jets fans dreams by announcing his intentions of playing for the New York Jets in 2023. This news comes as a huge relief for Jets fans considering the lack of other options after Mike White was scooped up by the Miami Dolphins and Derek Carr being brought in by the New Orleans Saints. Rumors of the Jets being interested in the Baltimore Ravens quarterback, Lamar Jackson, were spiraling yet Rodgers coming to New York was the ‘juiciest’ headline.
Many expected this considering Adam Schefter reported a ‘wish-list’ of NFL players for the Jets to sign for Rodgers to consider coming to MetLife. One of these players being fellow Packer teammate, wide receiver Allen Lazard, who the Jets would ultimately act upon as they signed him later that week for four-years, $44 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Bringing in a receiver like Lazard gives Rodger’s familiarity with his receiving core and helps him adapt to the Jet culture and system. Another key factor in Rodgers’ decision was the hire of former packer offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, to join forces again with Rodgers to help rejuvenate the Jets’ poor aerial offense of last season. The more comfortability and familiarity that the Jets can provide the 39-year-old quarterback, the better, considering his goal to win a Superbowl in a short window of time.
The papers are yet to be signed and the trade from Green Bay and New York still needs to be worked out, yet it seems both sides will come to an agreement to give Rodgers an opportunity to win a Superbowl elsewhere. This decision by the New York Jets is a ‘win now’ type of move and every Jet fan should be beyond ecstatic to see an all-time elite quarterback take the field in green and white to help bring back a championship the franchise hasn’t held since the great ‘Broadway’ Joe Namath guaranteed over 50 years ago.
