It sure sounds like Aaron Rodgers will be the NY Jets' QB in 2025
By Justin Fried
The NY Jets will have a host of franchise-altering decisions to make this offseason, but perhaps none will be more important than what they decide to do at the quarterback position. Will Aaron Rodgers be back?
That's been the prevailing question ever since it became abundantly clear that the Jets would not be serious contenders in 2024. At 3-7, the Jets are closer to the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft than a potential playoff spot.
That's why many are already looking ahead to next season. Rodgers hasn't made up his mind about returning for another season in 2025, but he seems to be leaning in one direction.
Rodgers was asked by reporters on Wednesday if he plans to play in 2025, and while he stopped short of providing a definitive answer, he certainly made it sound like he wants to keep playing. "I think so, yeah," were the exact words Rodgers told reporters.
Aaron Rodgers expects to be the NY Jets QB in 2025
The Jets will undergo somewhat of an organizational reset this offseason. The team will be looking for a new head coach and will almost certainly be in the market for a new general manager. Rodgers' status remains one of the biggest unknowns.
Right now, it seems as though Rodgers is operating under the assumption that he will be back in 2025. That would significantly alter the Jets' offseason plan and possibly limit their options when searching for a new coach and general manager.
It might be a tough sell to force a new regime to stick with Rodgers and a feeble win-now roster in the short term. Such a decision would likely be made by team owner Woody Johnson, who would overrule any new potential hires.
The Jets could always release Rodgers after the season if he refuses to retire. Unfortunately, designating him as a post-June 1st cut (their only option) would incur a dead cap hit of $17 million in 2024, $14 million in 2025, 2026, and 2027, and $7 million in 2028. It would be a costly venture.
That's why all signs point to Rodgers remaining with the Jets next season, even if the organization would be better off with a complete reset. Moving on from Rodgers after 2024 would force Johnson to admit that the experiment was a complete disaster.
If Rodgers is willing to return in 2025 — which it sure sounds like he is — the expectation should be that he's the Jets' quarterback. It's possible they still draft a QB to sit and learn behind Rodgers, but if the four-time MVP wants to play next season, the Jets likely aren't going to stop him.