The recipe for the Jets' season ahead is similar to the recipe for 2023, except with a much larger amount of Aaron Rodgers. Instead of those four thin plays and 4:04 of clock time the QB logged before tearing his Achilles, the idea is for A-Rod to play some 1,200 minutes (20 games) for all or part of six months, which would land the Jets in New Orleans on Super Sunday 2025.

That destination remains to be seen, but as Rodgers said, he thinks the Jets' roster is even better this time around than in his first year at One Jets Drive. As for Nawlins, A-Rod said: "The beauty of it is every single year there are eight to 12 teams that could actually do it. And we're one of those eight to 12."

"We have a very deep roster, knock on wood," HC Robert Saleh agreed. "The competition has been really good." Here is a breakdown of the Jets who are about to take on the '24 season.

QUARTERBACKS

RETURNEE: Aaron Rodgers (20th year). NEW VET: Tyrod Taylor (14th year).

SUMMARY: Rodgers is close to 100% back from his injury and coming off a strong summer, with Saleh saying of his 40-year-old surgeon, "His arm is still 30 and he's got plenty of mobility." There are personal goals for No. 8 — with 945 yards, he would become only the NFL's ninth 60,000-yard passer, and with 25 touchdown passes he'd be only the fifth to reach 500 TDs. With good health, he'll clear those hurdles and could challenge for his No. 1 goal of winning another Lombardi Trophy. And if he has to sit for any period of time, new backup Tyrod Taylor shares at least one similarity with the starter in TDs-to-INT ratio: Rodgers is easily first all-time (4.52 TDs/INT) while Taylor is 16th (2.24). Together, the QBs have combined for 32 NFL seasons — the most for two Jets QBs in the same season all-time.

RUNNING BACKS

RETURNEES: Breece Hall (3rd year), Israel Abanikanda (2nd). NEWCOMERS: Braelon Allen (rookie—Round 4), Isaiah Davis (rookie—Round 5B).

SUMMARY: Hall did it all in his full season back in action after his rookie knee injury. He finished 6 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards and averaged 4.5 yards/carry despite the OL issues. His 76 catches and 591 receiving yards both led all NFL RBs. His 1,585 scrimmage yards were the best by a Jet since Curtis Martin in 2004. And he'll have fresh legs as behind him rookies Allen (5.8 yards/carry this preseason), Davis and Abanikanda after his strong showing vs. the Giants, will fight it out for reps, carries and receptions out of the backfield.

WIDE RECEIVERS

RETURNEES: Garrett Wilson (3rd year), Allen Lazard (5th), Irvin Charles (2nd), Xavier Gipson (2nd). NEW VET: Mike Williams (8th year). NEWCOMER: Malachi Corley (rookie—Round 3).

SUMMARY: Wilson can become the first Jet with 3 seasons of 1,000 receiving yards to start his career, and his chemistry with Rodgers makes it at least conceivable that he could amass a season of stats to rival Brandon Marshall's 2015 (109-1,502-14 TDs). Williams, who rehabbed his injured knee most of this year, has been one of the NFL's top downfield threats (from 2018-23, No. 1 in yards/catch at 15.8, No. 2 in yards before catch at 11.4). Lazard has had a strong rebound summer, Gipson and Charles have both contributed, and Jets fans are eager to see how "YAC King" Corley's post-catch talents translate to the pros.

TIGHT ENDS

RETURNEES: Tyler Conklin (7th year), Jeremy Ruckert (3rd). NEWCOMER: Brenden Bates (rookie—waivers)

SUMMARY: Conklin was proud of topping his career single-season receiving yardage with 621 yards a year ago. If Conk puts together a solid season of at least 62 catches, 622 yards, a 10.3 yards/catch average and 4 TDs, he'll have career numbers in all those categories. The offense has high hope that Long Islander Ruckert will continue to increase his impact as well. Bates was acquired the day after final cuts off waivers from Chicago.

OFFENSIVE LINE

RETURNEES: G Alijah Vera-Tucker (4th year), C Joe Tippmann (2nd), OL Wes Schweitzer (9th), OL Max Mitchell (3rd), T Carter Warren (2nd), OL Xavier Newman (2nd). NEW VETS: T Tyron Smith (13th year), T Morgan Moses (10th), G John Simpson (4th). NEWCOMER: T Olu Fashanu (rookie—Round 1).

SUMMARY: Saleh said this year's starting unit has united in more than just the transactions that brought 8-time Pro Bowl LT Smith, RT Moses and LG Simpson onto the roster: "I love the way our O-line's coming together, and I'm not just talking about their play style. I'm talking about how they actually like being around each other. It's turning into a pretty cool group." Besides the above veteran trio, Vera-Tucker post-rehab is ready to settle in at RG, and Tippmann begins his second season as the starting C. Among the reserves: first-rounder Fashanu, who's worked both tackle spots this summer, and a foursome who gained experience during last season's injury blitz —Warren, Mitchell, Schweitzer and Newman.

DEFENSIVE LINE

RETURNEES: DL Quinnen Williams (6th year), LB Jermaine Johnson (3rd), DL Solomon Thomas (8th), DL Micheal Clemons (3rd), EDGE Will McDonald IV (2nd). NEW VETS: DL Javon Kinlaw (4th year), DL Takkarist McKinley (5th). NEWCOMERS: EDGE Braiden McGregor (rookie—UDFA), DL Leonard Taylor III (rookie—UDFA), DL Eric Watts (rookie—UDFA).

SUMMARY: The D-line last year had its most sacks (43 of the team's 46) since the NY Sack Exchange cashed in 59 sacks in 1981, significant because Williams could become the first Jets DL to earn 3 consecutive Pro Bowl invitations since Joe Klecko and Mark Gastineau from 1983-85. Other big sackers besides "Q" potentially are Pro Bowl returnee Johnson (listed at LB), edge McDonald, Clemons, and, it is hoped, Reddick, who held out all summer after his trade. The unit seeks to improve its run-stopping with UFAs Kinlaw and Fotu (once off short-term IR) joining forces with Thomas and Williams in the interior rotation. McKinley, one of the heartwarming stories of camp, and undrafted rookies McGregor, Taylor and Watts round out the deep and talented DL room.

LINEBACKERS

RETURNEES: C.J. Mosley (10th year), Quincy Williams (6th), Jamien Sherwood (4th), Chazz Surratt (3rd), Zaire Barnes (2nd).

SUMMARY: Mosley's leadership at LB, on defense and on the team is first-rate. He's also poised to become the first Jet to record 4 straight 150-tackle seasons. Williams erupted with unusual postseason recognition (first-team All-Pro but no Pro Bowl berth) built on 139 tackles, an unofficial 13.5 tackles for loss that is among the best totals in team history, and a dynamic strip-sack of Russell Wilson to help secure the Denver road win. Sherwood's emergence continues as the 3rd LB starter, and he, Surratt and Barnes are top ST contributors.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

RETURNEES: CB Sauce Gardner (3rd year), CB D.J. Reed (7th), CB Michael Carter II (4th), S Chuck Clark (8th), S Tony Adams (3rd), S Ashtyn Davis (5th), CB Brandin Echols (4th), CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (2nd). NEW VET: S Isaiah Oliver (7th year). NEWCOMER: CB Qwan'tez Stiggers (rookie—Round 5C).

SUMMARY: The Jets' marquee unit returns nearly everyone from a top-five pass-coverage campaign. Gardner is seeking multiple INTs to go with his résumé-entry 32 PDs that have made him a 2-time Pro Bowler. He, Reed and Carter form arguably the league's top CB troika. Clark, who missed all last year with an OTA knee injury, is back as one intense S starter alongside the irrepressible Adams. Davis, a takeaway magnet in '23, re-signed to patrol the back end and work specials. Candidates for DB action are Echols, Bernard-Converse, Stiggers and UFA safety Oliver.

SPECIALISTS

RETURNEES: LS Thomas Hennessy (8th year), K Greg Zuerlein (13th), P Thomas Morstead (16th).

SUMMARY: In two seasons in green and white, Zuerlein has become one of the top kickers in the Jets' first 64 seasons. Legatron has 11 FGs of 50+ yards, set the franchise records for longest kicks at home (57), on the road and overall (from 60 at Minnesota in '22), and last season won two games with late FGs. The ageless Morstead (actually 38) set franchise marks in gross (48.8) and net (41.8) yards/punt and led the NFL with 14 punts inside the 10 and 6 inside the 5. Hennessy never seems to have an errant snap and leads the league's snappers with 21 coverage tackles from 2018-23.