Aaron Rodgers era for Jets expected to end Wednesday with quarterback's release from Gang Green
Aaron Rodgers of the Jets looks on after a game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Aaron Rodgers is expected to be released on Wednesday, officially closing the book on his Jets career and ending a failed experiment for the franchise.
The prior Jets regime of Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh did everything they could for Rodgers to be happy and succeed where so many quarterbacks failed before him.
It didn’t work. Rodgers appeared in 18 games over two seasons and was a part of six wins as a Jet. They went 5-12 with Rodgers in 2024 and missed the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year.
Things may have gone differently had Rodgers never tore his Achilles tendon in his Jets debut or owner Woody Johnson hadn’t fired Saleh after five games last season. In the end, Rodgers’ legacy as a Jet will be he was another quarterback who couldn’t lead the franchise to the playoffs.
The Jets could have released Rodgers already. Since they are designating him a post-June 1 cut, they have to wait until the start of the new league year to waive the future Hall of Fame quarterback, who reportedly will sign with the Steelers or Giants.
The new NFL year begins on Wednesday.
Doing it this way allows the Jets to split Rodgers’ $49 million dead cap hit over two seasons rather than absorb it all this year. The Jets will carry a $14 million cap charge in 2025 and $35 million in 2026.
New Jets general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn chose this path. They already found Rodgers’ successor.
Justin Fields was the first free agent the Jets reached an agreement with after the negotiation window opened on Monday. Teams can begin signing free agents and announcing player acquisitions on Wednesday.
Fields, who played for the Bears and Steelers, will sign a two-year, $40 million contract, with $30 million of it guaranteed.
The Jets also came to terms with former Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens on a three-year, $36 million deal and ex-Jaguars safety Andre Cisco on a one-year contract worth up to $10 million. Cisco is from Valley Stream and went to St. Anthony's High School for two years.
Things moved a little more slowly for the Jets on Tuesday as they hadn’t come to terms with any free agents as of late evening. Mougey and Glenn still have a lot of work to do to patch up a roster filled with holes.
The most glaring needs are on the offense. . The Jets have their quarterback, and now they need pass catchers and a right tackle to protect him.
The Jets' receiving corps currently features Garrett Wilson, Fields’ former Ohio State teammate, Allen Lazard, Malachi Corley and Xavier Gipson. Lazard may not be with the Jets much longer. They could release him if they can’t trade him. Lazard’s $13.2 million cap number makes him unattractive to the Jets and other teams.
Tim Patrick has been linked to the Jets. He played for Detroit and Denver, the previous teams of Glenn and Mougey, respectively. A number of established receivers are available, including Keenan Allen, Tyler Lockett, Stefon Diggs, who is five months removed from suffering a torn ACL, and Amari Cooper.
Lindenhurst’s Jeremy Ruckert, another teammate of Fields' at Ohio State, is the most productive tight end on the Jets’ roster. They could try to re-sign Tyler Conklin or draft one at the position. Penn State’s Tyler Warren is a possibility with seventh overall pick.
The Jets lost starting right tackle Morgan Moses to the Patriots and need to find a replacement.
There are holes on the Jets’ defense as well. They need a defensive tackle to play next to Quinnen Williams, a linebacker and another safety.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
