NY Jets expected to clean house of Aaron Rodgers and his 'buddies'

News of Davante Adams' likely release has been well documented over the past week and a half. Along with Aaron Rodgers' departure, it marks the end of a disappointing era for the NY Jets.

However, Adams isn't the only Rodgers connection who is expected to be released in the offseason. Veteran wide receiver Allen Lazard will likely join Rodgers and Adams as failed remnants of this underwhelming Jets era.

ESPN's Rich Cimini is reporting that Lazard is expected to be released in the coming weeks. A seven-year veteran of both the Packers and the Jets, Lazard has made a career of following Rodgers' every turn. Now, it appears he will follow him out of New York.

NY Jets expected to release Allen Lazard this offseason

Cimini notes that the Jets didn't acquire Aaron Rodgers in 2023 as a standalone move — he described it as "an entire movement." Lazard was a key component of that movement.

Along with Lazard, the Jets also acquired Randall Cobb—one of Aaron Rodgers' hand-picked wide receiver targets, despite his retirement last offseason—surrounding Rodgers with his preferred options. Later, Davante Adams joined the mix, only to become another casualty in the mass Rodgers-era layoffs.

"Over the course of two seasons, the Jets surrounded him with three of his favorite wide receivers -- Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams... now Adams and Lazard are likely headed for the exit. They probably will be released in the coming weeks."

Rich Cimini

Lazard's time with the Jets was just one more failure that mirrored the entire two-year experiment. In 26 games with the Jets, Lazard hauled in only 60 passes for 841 yards and seven touchdowns.

Not that Lazard's underwhelming production will be missed, but losing a proven playmaker like Adams poses a real challenge. Rumors are swirling over whether the Jets will look to the open market or the draft for replacements.

We already knew Adams was almost certainly leaving, but with Lazard out as well, it feels like the official end of the Rodgers era in Jets history. For better or worse, they've cleaned house.

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