NY Jets make desperate leverage play with Allen Lazard trade attempt

The moment the NY Jets made the decision to move on from Aaron Rodgers this offseason, it was understood that there would be a ripple effect throughout the organization. Rodgers was more than just the Jets' starting quarterback.

He was the annointed face of the franchise who controlled the team's offensive scheme and made various personnel decisions. With Rodgers now gone, the Jets will also be parting ways with some of the players he brought with him.

Davante Adams could be the first to go, with reports that he could be released as early as this week. Allen Lazard should be next.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that the Jets, much like with Adams, have given Lazard permission to seek a trade. Schefter is reporting that the Jets are still "open to bringing him back" in 2025, but it's hard to believe that's anything more than a last-ditch leverage play.

The NY Jets will almost certainly release Allen Lazard

Lazard originally signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Jets prior to the 2023 season. He did so with the understanding that the Jets would soon be acquiring the only quarterback he had ever caught passes from on a consistent basis in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers.

The Jets hoped that Lazard would give them a reliable WR2 to pair with the ascending Garrett Wilson. Instead, Rodgers tore his Achilles four plays into the season, and Lazard found himself riding the bench in favor of the likes of undrafted rookies Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson.

Lazard returned in 2024 with a now-healthy Rodgers, and while he may have been marginally better, the inconsistencies were still an issue. The former Iowa State standout has led all qualified wide receivers in drop rate in each of the last two seasons.

Lazard's 17.9 percent drop rate is the highest among any qualified wide receiver in the NFL since 2023. It's difficult to justify keeping a guy like that around on the roster at an over $13 million cap hit.

The Jets may be leaking that they’re content with keeping Lazard in 2025 if no trade materializes, but that shouldn’t be taken seriously. With little chance of finding a trade partner, the Jets are almost certain to release him in the coming days.

The decision to move on from Rodgers was always indicative of wholesale changes within the Jets organization. With Rodgers already out, Adams and Lazard are likely to follow soon.

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