NY Jets: Retirement or Jets for Aaron Rodgers, Carl Lawson expected to be back

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Aaron Rodgers / Patrick McDermott/GettyImages

The NY Jets continue to eye Aaron Rodgers as their top quarterback choice, and it seems as though Rodgers' options are dwindling. In fact, ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested on Friday that Rodgers only has two options to choose from.

Schefter said on an appearance on SportsCenter that Rodgers will have to decide between retiring or the Jets. It seems as though returning to the Green Bay Packers is no longer a viable option for the 10-time Pro Bowler.

This also implies that the Jets are the only team that makes sense as a landing spot for Rodgers. The Carolina Panthers reportedly inquired about a Rodgers trade, but it doesn't appear as though they're serious contenders.

If Rodgers wants to play football in 2023, it's likely going to have to be with the Jets. Expect a decision to be made within the coming days.

Other NY Jets news

Jets coaching staff expects Carl Lawson to return

The Jets will have to make some difficult financial decisions this offseason, and one player who has been mentioned as a possible cap casualty has been defensive end Carl Lawson.

Lawson is set to carry a cap hit of $15.73 million into 2023, but the Jets could cut him and save over $15.4 million. That's led many to believe the Jets will release him or try to lower his cap hit.

However, The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reported on Friday that the Jets' coaching staff "is operating as if [Lawson] will be back" in 2023. Whether that means the Jets release him and try to sign him back at a lower rate or simply keep him at his current contract, the end result is the same.

Expect Carl Lawson to be on the Jets' roster this upcoming season.

Mike White interested in signing with the Dolphins

Jets quarterback Mike White joined Audacy's AM 560 Sports WQAM in Miami on Friday to discuss his NFL future, and the former fifth-round pick hinted at potentially signing with a division rival.

Although White insisted that he "would love to be back with the Jets," he also noted that he would also "love to be a part of" the Miami Dolphins organization. White is notably from Florida, and he said that he would welcome a return home.

The soon-to-be 28-year-old is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and could command a decent-sized market as a backup/fringe starter.

Although Jets head coach Robert Saleh claimed on Thursday that White "should be" on the Jets' roster in 2023, that notion remains uncertain. White very well could be headed elsewhere this offseason, perhaps even to a different AFC East team.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.