The New York Jets have a long to-do list early on in the 2025 NFL offseason.
But the team has started to cross things off that.
Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, respectively, have been named head coach and general manager of the Jets.
With those pieces in place, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be the main man in the crosshairs. Should the 41-year-old stay or go?
On both sides of the ledger, there is plenty to consider.
In terms of parting ways with him, here are three reasons why the Jets could let go of the QB in 2025:
At what cost? (actual cost)
USAT
Admittedly this is a bit of a two-sided coin flip.
Currently Rodgers has no more guaranteed money owed to him on his contract. However, the salary cap will take a huge hit. His deal has him giving the Jets a $49 million dead cap hit if he’s cut.
Even if the Jets split those costs and they make him a post-June 1 designation, that will still be tough to swallow. Doing that would cost the team $21 million in dead money in 2025 and $28 million in 2026 according to Over The Cap.
Now for the other half of this, if Rodgers does stick around, he did say he is open to reworking his contract in New York once again. That still doesn’t guarantee it would be a massive amount of savings for the Jets, though.
Ability to avoid injuries
Getty
It’s not really up for debate all that much: Rodgers did play better down the stretch for the Jets last season despite their poor 5-12 overall record.
Even so, the QB will be 42 next season and while his efforts improved, he still played through injury. While Rodgers did start all 17 games for the green and white last season, doing so dinged up hampered him and that trend could very well continue.
(And we didn’t even mention his serious Achilles injury, either.)
Maybe it’s just for the best
Imagn
And the natural thought for most that would prefer Rodgers is not in New York next season: Maybe it’s just for the best?
And potentially for both sides, too.
A new regime is now running the Jets and keeping Rodgers for one more season wouldn’t really give Glenn and Mougey a full “clean slate” until 2026.
A ripping off of the bandage, if you will.
