The task laid at the feet of new head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey for the New York Jets was never going to be a quick fix.
With a franchise starved of success and a culture that was, shall we say, less than ideal, especially in the past two seasons, there was a lot to clean up.
Glenn and Mougey have been trimming the fat this offseason and aiming for a more youthful look with their roster as they try to turn this embattled ship around.
Justin Fields is the key figurehead, with the former first-round pick tasked with leading the franchise in what he hopes will be a resurgent season.
But now that the full NFL schedule has dropped, everyone is making their predictions, and for Matt Verderame, he has a 5-12 record for New York in Glenn's first year.
"This is a rebuilding year for the Jets, who have a new general manager, coach and quarterback," he writes. "New York is the worst team in the division and the schedule isn’t going to do them many favors, having to play a third-place slate with games against the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys. Both of those teams are better than Miami’s current edition."
"Worst team''? To optimistic Jets fans ... that stings.
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn.
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn.
Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A 5-12 record for most feels about right, especially when looking at the AFC East and the rest of the schedule.
But even before we knew who the Jets were playing and where, it was always going to be a tricky season, one full of teaching moments and foundation-building from Glenn.
He wants the Jets to play in his image and to establish a new grinding culture, and that doesn't happened overnight, it takes time.
And the 2025 prediction by Verderame reflects that.
Yes, the Jets' offseason has had some positive aspects, but the 2025 season is going to be tough sledding.