After a team meeting Thursday, the Jets held a barbeque for players and their families at the team's Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. The gathering marked both an end to minicamp and a beginning to the offseason.

"You have Phase I, II, III, and now 'Phase Me'. It's the 40 days off and it's a great opportunity for the individual player to be selfish and to himself," said HC Robert Saleh. "It's a great opportunity to create separation on their competition with the way that they approach the offseason. You can go to the beach, party and drink, or you can hit the gym and hydrate."

Over the next five-plus weeks, players will have an extended break to prepare for training camp, the preseason and a 17-game regular season.

"There are different ways everyone approaches these next 40 days," Saleh said. "You can gain ground on your competition, you can separate from your competition, or you can lose your entire '24 season with the way you approach these next 40. The message is to be deliberate and to attack this thing and put yourself in a position to be great in '24."

Wideout Garrett Wilson, the first Jets WR to eclipse 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, has owned a singular mindset throughout the spring.

"Winning games," he said when asked about his next level. "Winning, getting into the playoffs. I'm confident that we do that, everything will take care of itself. I've always kind of lived by that. Let's focus on winning and the other stuff will shine through."

Last season, the Jets lost QB Aaron Rodgers (Achilles tendon tear) four snaps into the season and endeding up starting 3 three signal-callers behind 13 different OL combinations. But the Jets could field a powerful unit with Rodgers returning, multiple newcomers along the offensive line and two young stars in Wilson and RB Breece Hall.

"There have been a lot of new faces especially offensively and with new coaches and new players," Saleh said of a unit led by OC Nathaniel Hackett. "I do think it's improved a lot. You look at it from an offensive standpoint, the communication, and the recall from a year ago with regard to the scheme. Last year a lot of mistakes were being made because you're learning a new system. This year there is a lot more communication, a lot more fixing on the fly, players communicating with players like we've talked about. So in that regard from an offensive standpoint, we're playing a lot faster, much more decisive, we're in and out of the huddle where the operation is a lot cleaner. The route running is a lot crisper, the O-line blocking schemes are more defined. It's been fun to watch and to go through, so that is much improved."

The Jets hope an improved offense paired with strong defensive and special teams units will lead them to contention next winter. As summer commences, the Jets will head out on different individual paths. But the collective goal remains clear for a team nowhere close to full following a barbeque.

"I'm not going to lie to you – I'm very hungry," said CB D.J. Reed. "I really want to help us win a championship here. I don't say that to just say that. That's really my goal, why I work out every day, why I train every day, why I make all these sacrifices away from my family. I really want to hold that Lombardi up for the Jets. That's something that I really visualize and dream about. Winning in New York is different. … The environment, the energy in New York is just different to be honest with you, from all the other places I've been. Just with the media, just with the fans. That would mean everything, just to win here."