If it weren’t for Bill Belichick’s savvy decision-making at this year’s NFL Draft, Aaron Rodgers might have avoided a season-ending injury on Monday night.
Rodgers unfortunately suffered an Achilles tear in the New York Jets’ season opener against the Buffalo Bills. On New York’s fourth snap of the game, Rodgers suffered the injury after taking getting sacked by Leonard Floyd.
The Jets’ offensive line was a serious concern coming into this season. They started 38-year-old Duane Brown and the oft-injured Mekhi Becton (one game played over the 2021 and 2022 seasons) at offensive tackle.
Several fans noted that back in the first round of the draft, Belichick seemingly sabotaged the Jets on purpose by trading the No. 14 pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers (the Jets had the No. 15 selection). The Patriots moved down to No. 17, and the Steelers took Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones.
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Many believed that the Jets were eyeing Jones, one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2023 class. So it’s presumed by many that Belichick didn’t want the Patriots’ archrivals to get Jones to help Rodgers, so he was happy to trade down three spots with Pittsburgh.
At any rate, the Jets should have been more vigilant about protecting their new franchise quarterback. If the unit doesn’t improve in pass protection throughout the year, we know exactly what will be atop Joe Douglas’ wish list next offseason.
