Former Jets QB sticking with bold Aaron Rodgers prediction

Former New York Jets quarterback and current "The NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason remains confident that Aaron Rodgers will return to his MVP form playing under offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. 

"He is going to make (wide receiver) Garrett Wilson a superstar," Esiason said about Rodgers during Monday's edition of the WFAN "Boomer and Gio" program, per Lou DiPietro of Audacy. "You can see this kid can catch everything and is going to be amazing – and if I put the number at 47.5 for touchdown passes for Rodgers, if he stays healthy and plays 17 games, it will be over that." 

Back in June, Esiason predicted that Rodgers is "gonna have 50 touchdown passes this season, minimum" as long as the 39-year-old remains healthy throughout the upcoming campaign. 

The future Hall of Famer suffered a broken thumb on his throwing hand in Week 5 of the 2022 season and later injured his ribs in Week 12 while with the Green Bay Packers, and some have questioned if he'll be able to remain in the lineup for 17 games while playing behind a Jets offensive line that has some noticeable weaknesses. 

As noted by ESPN, Rodgers completed five-of-eight passes for 47 yards and a touchdown in this past Saturday's preseason finale against the New York Giants. Esiason said after watching that contest he thinks the Jets' offensive line will be "fine" and survive early tests against teams such as the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. 

New York plays at the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 and then hosts the New England Patriots in Week 3 before a Week 4 matchup versus the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

"Because of the way this league is set up, it really comes down to whether or not the quarterback can stay upright for 17 games," Esiason added. "They have one of the hardest starting schedules, and a lot of good teams on there." 

Rodgers earned MVP honors for the 2020 and 2021 seasons with Hackett as his OC. As of Monday afternoon, OddsChecker had Rodgers tied for sixth at +1600 odds among betting favorites to win the MVP award during his first campaign with the Jets.