Advanced model updates Jets' projected win total

The New York Jets went to back-to-back AFC Championship Games under Rex Ryan in 2009 and 2010, but in the nine years since the franchise has only managed one winning season and hasn't been to the NFL playoffs at all. However, after Adam Gase turned in an encouraging 7-9 season in his first year at the helm, the Jets are hoping that they can make a play for the suddenly up-for-grabs AFC East.

The Jets made protecting Sam Darnold their top priority in NFL free agency, signing George Fant, Connor McGovern and Greg Van Roten to three-year deals for a total commitment of $67.5 million dollars. Then they helped replace Robby Anderson by signing Breshad Perriman to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million and very recently added an experienced backup and potential mentor for Darnold by signing Joe Flacco to a one-year contract.

Which 2020 NFL win totals are way off? ... See every projected win total, including a shocking prediction for the Packers, all from a proven projection model that crushed its NFL win total picks last year!

Then at the 2020 NFL Draft, protecting Darnold and surrounding him with playmaking ability remained the No. 1 objective, as New York spent its first-round pick on Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton and its second-round pick on Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims. Becton should slot in as a starter at left tackle and Mims will likely join Jamison Crowder and Perriman in the Jets' top trio of wide receivers.

The Jets then spent their two third-round picks on defense, drafting Cal safety Ashtyn Davis and Florida edge rusher Jabari Zuniga. On Day Three, the Jets passed up on the opportunity to add immediate difference makers in lieu of adding depth at quarterback and running back, but did manage to find value in the fifth round with Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall. And like every other team in the AFC East, they wound up drafting a specialist by taking Texas A&M punter Braden Mann in the sixth round.

At the end of it all, it's tough to get a read on this team. They entered the offseason with a roster more talented than the Dolphins but not as well-rounded as the Bills. But both the Bills and Dolphins had more aggressive offseasons than the Jets, which means Gase's staff must squeeze a lot more out of what they already have to keep up. With the Patriots losing Tom Brady, this could be the league's most intriguing division and the Jets have at least a chance of factoring in.

The SportsLine Projection Model predicts that the Jets win an average of 6.2 games in the computer's 10,000 simulations of the 2020 NFL season, down from 6.5 projected wins prior to the 2020 NFL Draft. New York wins the division 9.2 percent of the time and makes the playoffs 15.9 percent of the time. The Jets are also currently 100-1 to win Super Bowl 55 according to William Hill, which is tied for fifth-worst odds in the NFL.