NY Jets have identified a ‘leader in the clubhouse’ to replace Aaron Rodgers

The NY Jets have finally found an answer to one of the most talked-about decisions this franchise has had to make in years, as Jay Glazer has reported that Aaron Rodgers will not be the team's starting quarterback in 2025. The team intends to either trade or release the future Hall of Famer.

While Rodgers may have given Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey the best chance to win games in their debut seasons in charge of the Jets, it appears as though both of them valued the ability to start fresh in 2025 without taking as much of an immediate cap hit on their 2026 and 2027 books.

The Jets reportedly have a name in mind to replace Rodgers as the team's starting quarterback, but it might not be someone who will get fans excited about the season. Tyrod Taylor might be under center in 2025.

According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, Taylor is reportedly viewed as the leader in the clubhouse to take over the QB1 role without Rodgers, with many citing the lack of quality options in the free agent market or a very thin 2025 NFL Draft class. 2025 may be a lean year for Glenn and Mougey.

Tyrod Taylor is the favorite to succeed Aaron Rodgers as NY Jets QB

Taylor only threw passes in two games last season, both of which were blowouts in which it's hard to discern much about his playmaking. Taylor, who will turn 36 in August, went 5-7 and threw 12 touchdowns against nine interceptions in his past five pre-Jets seasons split between the Chargers, Texans, and Giants.

Sam Darnold is the big free agent prize, but he will likely want nothing to do with the Jets after a bad start to his career. Kirk Cousins would be a wholly uninspiring bridge quarterback after his regression in Atlanta. Justin Fields could be an appealing option, but will the Pittsburgh Steelers bring him back anyway?

In the 2025 NFL Draft, it seems unlikely that either Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders will last to No. 7 overall for New York. With Alabama's Jalen Milroe likely falling out of the first round and Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart likely not looking like a first-round pick at his juncture, the options to replace Rodgers are wearing thin.

The Jets seem willing to take 2025 on the chin, letting Glenn lay the foundation in a year where wins may once again be hard to come by. A younger Taylor may have been interesting, but his age makes him a less-than-inspiring option for a team trying to avoid missing the playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons.

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