Rodgers Wish List A “Silly Narrative”

Following the NFL draft, the Jets have added two new veterans, Randall Cobb and Billy Turner, who were previously teammates with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. This has once again sparked rumors that Rodgers provided the Jets with a wish list of requested additions before any potential trade. However, head coach Robert Saleh dispelled this notion, stating that new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has a previous working history with these players.

Saleh argued that it is common practice for new coaching staffs to prefer individuals that they are familiar with and that he has already brought in many players that he’s coached previously to help ease the learning curve for the rest of the team. Therefore, since Hackett is the new offensive coordinator, Saleh pushed for players like Cobb, Turner, and Allen Lazard whom he has coached before.

Saleh referenced the Buccaneers bringing in Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown when Tom Brady arrived, highlighting how common this practice is across the league. It is important to note that since Saleh’s arrival in New York two years ago, he has consistently brought in players he’s coached before as a way to accelerate the players’ assimilation into the team.

During Rodgers’s first few practices with the Jets, Saleh has praised the quarterback for his leadership qualities and contributions to the team as another coach on the field. This transition should be easier for Rodgers since he has some familiar faces in New York with him, providing more comfort and facilitating an easier assimilation.