NY Jets could trade Aaron Rodgers in surprising offseason twist

Aaron Rodgers has played his final game as the NY Jets' quarterback. That much was made abundantly clear following multiple reports on Sunday confirming his expected departure.

The Jets will move forward with a new quarterback in 2025 as the team attempts to usher in a new era with a head coach and general manager. As for Rodgers, his future remains unclear.

The four-time MVP has yet to commit to playing in 2025, but reports suggest he's at least open to the idea. Rodgers should have his fair share of suitors in what is expected to be a weak quarterback market this offseason.

Most assume the Jets will simply opt to release Rodgers at some point, but that might not be the case. There's a world in which the Jets are able to find a trade partner for their aging quarterback.

NY Jets might be able to find an Aaron Rodgers trade partner

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer speculated on Sunday that Rodgers could be a tradeable asset for the Jets. SNY's Connor Hughes doubled down on that notion, insisting the Jets will either release or trade him this offseason.

There will be more teams searching for quarterback help this offseason than available QB upgrades, making Rodgers an appealing option. The issue is twofold: finances and the understanding that the Jets will simply release Rodgers if he's not traded.

Those factors significantly decrease Rodgers' trade value, but it's still possible the Jets would be able to get something in return. But what are the financial ramifications of a Rodgers trade? After all, money is the biggest reason the Jets decided to move on.

If the Jets trade Rodgers before June 1st — which they almost certainly would — they would incur a dead cap hit of $49 million in 2025. Trading Rodgers early in the offseason would force the Jets to take his full dead cap charge upfront.

The good news is that Rodgers would come off the books entirely after 2025, carrying no dead cap into 2026. The downside is that the Jets would incur a significant dead cap hit in 2025.

The acquiring team would get Rodgers at a relative discount and could potentially rework his contract post-trade. In 2025, the team would only be responsible for his scheduled base salary of $2.5 million, a significant bargain that could make a trade more appealing.

Of course, Rodgers would need to approve any trade before it happens. Although he doesn't have an official no-trade clause, the structure of his contract makes it essential for him to agree to a reworked deal.

Expect the Jets to explore every option with Rodgers this offseason. Don't rule out the possibility that he finds a new home via the trade market.

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