Aaron Rodgers has new Jets worry as Bills sign Leonard Floyd
Aaron Rodgers now has another dangerous edge rusher to worry about in the AFC East.
The Bills are signing former Rams and Bears defensive end Leonard Floyd to a one-year deal, as reported Monday by NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Floyd, 30, has had three straight seasons with nine-plus sacks since joining Los Angeles, helping the Rams defeat the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
The veteran, who was one of the top NFL free agents left on the market, adds to a loaded Bills defense that also includes Von Miller, Tre’Davious White, Ed Oliver (who, just days earlier, received a contract extension), Matt Milano and Jordan Poyer.
Buffalo is clearly going for it as they enter the final year of Josh Allen’s contract before his massive extension kicks in; the star quarterback costs only $18 million against the team’s salary cap in 2023 before that number skyrockets to $47 million in 2024.
Leonard Floyd after winning the Super Bowl with the Rams Getty Images
That’s tough news for their division rival Jets, who are also in a race against time with their quarterback.
Rodgers, whom the team dealt for in April after spending his whole career with the Green Bay Packers, will turn 40 during the 2023 season.
Not only is Floyd another talented player for the rival team that has won the division three straight years, but he has also historically tortured Rodgers stretching back to his time with the Bears.
In nine career games against Rodgers and the Packers, Floyd logged nine sacks.
Aaron Rodgers (8) at Jets OTAs on May 31, 2023. Noah K. Murray for the NY Post
Leonard Floyd sacks and forces a fumble on Aaron Rodgers when he was with the Packers Getty Images
The Dolphins, who were already sixth in total offense in 2022, also added blue-chip pieces on defense, trading for Jalen Ramsey (also from the Rams).
And while the Patriots haven’t had the same success since Tom Brady left in 2020, one can’t count out a Bill Belichick-coached team, either.
FanDuel Sportsbook has listed the Jets’ 2023 win total over/under at 9.5 games.
Source: New York Post
