Before the 2017 season began, the New York Jets were a consensus dead last team with a high probability to have a winless season. As the season progressed, Todd Bowles' crew went up as high as #18 in some power rankings. They finished 5-11 and ultimately crashed down to pretty much where they started. ESPN had them at #29, while both the Sporting News and NFL.com put them at #30 in their post season edition of power rankings. Yahoo Sports placed the Jets at #28.
Here's what these websites had to say about the Jets:
ESPN: The Jets surpassed expectations in 2017, and Josh McCown surprised with his quality of play. But where does that leave them now? They still don't have a long-term plan at quarterback and have the No. 6 pick in the 2018 draft, which could be too late to draft one of the top quarterback prospects.
Sporting News: Todd Bowles will be back to help the defense overachieve, but a stopgap offense is transitioning into a tough reboot with quarterback topping the list of changes.
NFL.com: Why so low? As well as the Jets competed last season, we saw how bad it could get sans Josh McCown, who could retire or sign elsewhere. No matter the case, New York must draft somebody. High. No more of this taking a flier on a Baylor quarterback in the fourth round stuff. Putting Bryce Petty aside for a moment, the Jets would just as soon play Ken O'Brien as send Christian Hackenberg out there. Another issue: Fifteen impending free agents are set to hit the marketplace. Thankfully, New York owns a TON of cap space with which to maneuver whimsically. Free agency and the draft could send Todd Bowles' outfit right back up the league hierarchy.
Yahoo Sports: I believe in Todd Bowles as a coach, and was glad to see the Jets not overreact and fire him. I really do think the extension for him is a good thing. I’m not as sure on GM Mike Maccagnan — the second-round pick on Christian Hackenberg alone is enough to make me wonder if he’s in over his head — but I get that the team wanted to be patient with both. But they’ll need a good offseason, because that patience won’t last forever.
It's still a year away but Super Bowl LIII odds are already out. The New York Jets are +12,500 to go all the way in the latest odds released by BetNow Sportsbook. Only the Cleveland Browns (+25,000) are ranked lower. The Patriots and the Eagles are favored to make it to the big game once again, as both teams are +500.