Before the start of the 2023 NFL season, the New York Jets signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a three-year deal worth $112 million. According to the future hall of famer, he may not play out the remainder of the deal, which has been disappointing to say the least. Rodgers addressed the media as he prepares for the Jets finale this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
“I think there’s going to be change here, and if I’m not part part of the change, then I just want to make sure everyone knows I have nothing but gratitude for my time here.”
The Jets had gone 7-10 in 2022, starting a quarterback rotation of Zach Wilson (5-4), Mike White (1-3), and Joe Flacco (1-3). They had the fourth-best scoring offense in the NFL, and from the outside looking in, it appeared the only thing keeping New York and Robert Saleh from the playoffs was a good quarterback play.
Rodgers was coming off an 8-9 season with the Green Bay Packers, and the team was looking to transition their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jordan Love, into the starting role. Despite his advanced age (39 years old), Rodgers was effective for the Packers. He completed 64.6% of his passes for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns. A deal was struck, and Rodgers, along with the 15th and 170th pick in the 2023 Draft were sent to New York for the 13th, 42nd, and 207th pick.
On the first drive of the year for the Jets, Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon, was ruled out for the season, and the team unfortunately had to turn again to their 2020 bust, Wilson. The team again went 7-10, and their head coach was given a pass, because of the unfortunate situation. Fully healthy to start 2024, Rodgers and the Jets embarked on a 4-12 season, that led to their coach being fired, and speculation about which quarterback they will select in the April Draft.
The Jets will most likely push for Rodgers to return. He has $49 million in dead cap, and if they designate his retirement as post-July 1, it will count as $24.5 million against their cap in 2025 and in 2026. His cap hit if he plays is expected to be $23.5 million. It actually costs the team more money if he’s not there. The other benefit to keeping Rodgers, is the ability to not rush their rookie quartewrback.
Whoever the team takes in the Draft (either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward) will be best served to sit for a year, or close to a year. Rodgers would be a great stop-gap quarterback. The same way Brett Favre had no interest in grooming Rodgers for the NFL, the latter has shown no interest in being a mentor to his potential successor. Would he be open to it if he knew it was his last season?
Rodgers may not be a great person, but he’s a great person to learn the position from. Were he to embrace the role, he could help significantly jump start the career of a great young signal caller. The season’s not over yet, and these decisions likely will take time. It’s likely that the team will mull over their options, as will Rodgers, and a decision might be more likely some time before the 2025 season opens for business. Hopefully they make the right decision. That’s something the team has not done in quite some time.
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