This might be the final stretch for one Jets veteran in New York

A season that promised much for the New York Jets has delivered almost nothing. Fans were cautiously optimistic about making progress under new head coach Aaron Glenn, who brought a non-nonsense mindset to the franchise in an unrelenting quest to get this perennial struggler off the canvas.

Things haven't gone well. The Jets remain among the bottom-feeders, and there are far more questions than answers about the team's current direction. Trading away defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner waved the white flag in no uncertain terms. Now, this is all about looking forward, regardless of how the results go from here.

Significant changes are coming. And there is one veteran whose time with the Jets is rapidly coming to an end.

Allen Lazard's time with the Jets is mercifully coming to an end

When the Jets pulled off a coup by signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers, those in power at the time surrounded the veteran signal-caller with weapons he trusted. These included some familiar faces, but a torn Achilles tendon in the first few snaps of his debut derailed everything.

This impacted Allen Lazard more than most. He's also dealt with several frustrating injuries during his time at MetLife Stadium. And considering the money given to the wide receiver — four years, $44 million with a $10.92 million signing bonus and $22 million guaranteed — the Jets have got almost no bang for their buck.

Lazard has featured just seven times this season, hauling in eight receptions from 14 targets for 54 receiving yards and one touchdown. One can point to the subpar quarterback play from Justin Fields, who's now been benched, but the fact that the former Iowa State standout has logged just 47.1 percent of the team's offensive snaps suggests he is slowly becoming an afterthought.

Thankfully, the Jets can finally end this failed experiment during the 2026 offseason. Lazard is out of contract, and the chances of him being extended are remote. The player and the franchise are not aligned in their respective trajectories. And in all honesty, his performances have been nowhere near good enough to warrant another deal.

The Jets placed a hefty wager on Lazard, but it was clear from a long way out that getting a return on their investment would be almost impossible. Both sides will go their separate ways next spring. And for Jets fans, it's not too soon.

Several tough decisions await the Jets this offseason. Moving on from Lazard will be among the easiest.