The New York Jets' offseason was defined by both promise and risk. They unquestionably upgraded their offensive line, pass-rushing attack and wide receiving room on paper but partly did so by acquiring injury-prone talents like tackle Tyron Smith and receiver Mike Williams, and a possibly dissatisfied one in Haason Reddick.
Well, general manager Joe Douglas appears to still be in the mood to roll the dice. The Jets are inviting two-time Second-Team All-Pro selection Jakeem Grant to practice with them at mandatory minicamp this week, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
The 5-foot-6 special teams star found success in his five and a half seasons with the Miami Dolphins before being traded to the Chicago Bears in October of 2021– where he recorded an incredible 97-yard punt return touchdown. Grant has four PR scores in his career and two 100-yard-plus kick return TDs to his name.
The 31-year-old signed with the Cleveland Browns a couple years ago, but devastating injuries prevented him from seeing the field. While his explosiveness is surely in question, Grant could provide New York with added production in an oft-overlooked area. His comeback quest nicely aligns with that of several members of this team, so maybe this could be an ideal fit.
The former sixth-round pick and Texas Tech star wide receiver will have to prove himself in a tryout first, though. He should be one of multiple intriguing storylines for Jets fans to monitor at mandatory minicamp. The organization must continue to move forward in its preparation for a pivotal 2024-25 NFL campaign.
Jets have to make a big jump next season
There is no more time to waste. The Gang Green are tired of waiting for this seemingly endless 13-year playoff drought to mercifully end. A catastrophic Aaron Rodgers Achilles injury in last year's opener disturbingly tortured and teased this perpetually patient fandom, as it turned to its long-overused mantra– “maybe next year.”
But this season, those usually hollow words have a great chance of holding credence. Rodgers is healthy right now, running back Breece Hall will be approximately two years removed from an ACL tear, the O-Line should be sturdier and the defense figures to be both deep and rejuvenated.
The newfound confidence brought on by these developments exposes the artificial wall of optimism that fans constructed going into last season. Rodgers is arguably a top-10 quarterback of all-time, but in the twilight of his career, he alone cannot save this franchise. It will take both a Hall of Fame QB and balanced roster to dramatically transform the Jets' culture.
Joe Douglas may have started the offseason slow, but he has given people a reason to emotionally invest in the squad as a whole, which was not necessarily the case in 2023. And as cliche as it may sound, resilience will be an essential quality that Robert Saleh's group must typify in 2024-25.
Potentially signing Jakeem Grant, who was affectionately called “Mighty Mouse,” could infuse a valuable dose of tenacity into the locker room and on the field. Because no matter how fans perceive the new-look Jets, they are underdogs at heart.
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