Like Aaron Rodgers last offseason, joining the Jets has been a breath of fresh air for another veteran quarterback -- backup Tyrod Taylor.
"This is no disrespect to [the Giants] or anything, but when coming in here and being around the guys for Phase One, it was refreshing the energy throughout the locker room," Taylor said. "On the field, just is different. I've been on a couple of different teams and I've gotten a chance to feel that out for a couple of different teams. I think we're in a good space. There's only room to grow and I think everyone obviously wants to be a part of something special, but it's about putting in the work. That's what we're focusing on."
Entering Year 14 in NFL with 92 games (58 starts) under his belt, the 2011 sixth-round pick out of Virginia Tech is bullish on the Green & White's chances to reach to the postseason.
"A ton of talent at every position," he said in minicamp. "Obviously, I've had a chance to go against this group of guys last year and even practice against them two years ago in training camp. A very talented roster and just being around the guys is fun. Great locker room to be around, great coaching staff as well. We have big expectations, but it's really about putting in the work day in and day out, not looking too far ahead, enjoying the process, staying true to the process and striving to be better every day."
Taylor, who played the last two seasons with the Giants, enters an uncommon quarterback's room where the starter and backup are each seasoned NFL players, whereas most teams have a blend of youth and experience. The Patriots, for example, have Jacoby Brissett, entering Year 9, and No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye.
Taylor, who will back up Rodgers this coming season, has swiftly picked up Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett's scheme. Taylor took a handful of reps with the first team throughout the spring including both practices in minicamp.
"I feel good," he said. "Obviously, there's always room to grow and as a quarterback, you're always trying to find ways to be better. That's really been the focus throughout this offseason. We all talked about our J.O.T, which is 'just one thing.' That was something that Coach [Robert] Saleh talked about in our first team meeting. It's a daily reminder that when you step on the field, don't get bogged down by trying to go out there and accomplish 10 different things. If you do that, then great, but at the same time, it's still one job that you're specifically focusing on and making sure that you're 100% at that.
"So just taking those daily reminders out to the field, to a man within that locker room, and being better. Expecting perfection but understanding that's not reality. That's what you practice for and that's what you strive for day in and day out."
Taylor may be new to wearing green and white, but he's suited up with his "new" teammates before, such as WR Mike Williams (Chargers) and LB C.J. Mosley (Ravens). General manager Joe Douglas, additionally, was a scout for the Ravens when Taylor was drafted.
"It's always good to be around people that you that you have a past or history with," Taylor said. "Hopefully we can do something that we all want to do here, something that we were able to do in Baltimore."
See photos of the Jets quarterbacks during the 2024 offseason program.