The Jets’ QB options for 2025 – with or without Aaron Rodgers
The dissolution of the New York Jets’ season can best be explained by a series of quotes from Aaron Rodgers.
On September 25, a few days after the Jets defeated the Patriots on Thursday night: “I often come back to this quote, but Mike McCarthy said in Green Bay in 2016 that ‘our biggest struggle will be dealing with success,’ and here comes a lot to consider… I think that’s the mark of a great team, just: Can you handle the success part?’
On October 23, a few days after the Jets’ fourth straight loss: “I mean, every year presents its own challenges. Fortunately, we have not yet reached the denouement of this season. There’s still a lot of time left. I think it’s important that we all remain as optimistic as possible. It’s a long season, with a lot of ups and downs. We have already had many setbacks this season. We just have to stick together, buy one and then build on it.
On November 17, after a loss to the Colts, the Jets fell to 3-8 and Rodgers was asked if he was “shocked”: “Yeah, I mean, that’s a buzzword, so I’m not going to get into that. to what you just said. I just want to say I’m disappointed.”
Rodgers said versions of the word “disappointed” four times in his final post-match press conference. If he had used his thesaurus that morning, he might have been considered “dejected.” Maybe ‘saddened’. Or: ‘dissatisfied’. That may be the word that best describes how the Jets feel about the play of their 40-year-old quarterback, the man who was supposed to take this organization to the promised land.
The Jets went all-in on Rodgers and brought along some of his closest friends: wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. It simply didn’t work out. In recent weeks, Rodgers has played like a 40-year-old, seeming more concerned with avoiding getting hit by pass rushers than shooting down the field. Over the past two weeks, Rodgers has made just six attempts to fly 30 feet or more in the air, and completed only one of them. He hasn’t thrown for 300 yards in a game since 2021; he is averaging 211 passing yards in the five games since the Jets traded for Adams. For the season, he ranks 26th in EPA per attempt and 31st in average air yards per attempt (6.7).
Rodgers’ explanations for his reluctance to throw deep have ranged from the offensive line having to hold blocks longer to, last week, the Colts defense deploying two-high coverages and forcing him into dump-offs and short throws.
“I just think historically he’s one of the best when it comes to protecting the ball and not putting the ball in danger, so I think a lot of that is because of that,” interim coach Jeff said Ulbrich. “For the team, he never wants to compromise the ball, he never wants to throw interceptions, and he’s done that his whole career and I think that’s a big part of it.”
The reality — even if no one in the Jets building wants to admit it — is that Rodgers’ playing style has made the offense far less explosive, relying on players like Adams, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall to convert short throws into big ones. actions. In other words, the Jets are whittling away at what on paper looks like a talented group of players with a good skill position, aided by the best offensive line of the Joe Douglas era. It has led to an inevitability: Rodgers may not be their best option at quarterback for 2025.
At this point, Rodgers probably won’t want to return to this situation anyway, with owner Woody Johnson cleaning house, firing Douglas and likely moving on from Ulbrich and Hackett, Rodgers’ good friend. Johnson — who sources said suggested benching Rodgers after a Week 4 loss to the Broncos — isn’t expected to want Rodgers back in 2025, though things could certainly change if Rodgers’ play in the last improves six weeks into the season.
Since the 2024 season might as well be over, let’s look at two different quarterback paths for 2025: “Aaron Rodgers stays” and “Aaron Rodgers goes.”
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Aaron Rodgers stays
What would it take for Rodgers to return as the Jets’ quarterback in 2025?
Start here: As bad as things look right now, Rodgers is still statistically on pace for one of the better quarterback seasons in franchise history. That doesn’t mean much when you look at the Jets’ history at the position — and Rodgers’ numbers are inflated because the Jets have passed the ball a lot — but it’s still notable. His current pace (if he plays all 17 games): 3,774 yards, 26 touchdowns, 11 interceptions.
If someone had said before the season that these would be his stats, you would think the Jets were in the hunt for the playoffs. Obviously not, but if you take away the circus, Rodgers is still a starting-caliber NFL quarterback, just not the kind of starter who can put a team on his back.
Rodgers’ potential return depends on four factors:
• The next general manager: Is he open to keeping Rodgers?
• The next head coach: is he open to working with the 41-year-old Rodgers?
• Rodgers’ relationship with the next play-caller: Is the quarterback willing to compromise if he insists on having full control of the offense?
• The next quarterback: Is Rodgers willing to mentor a young QB, knowing that he, who will turn 42 in December of next season and play for a team with no Super Bowl aspirations, is essentially a bridge quarterback?
Regarding the first two points, the Jets may not be attractive to a large portion of GM or head coaching candidates if the expectation is to keep Rodgers.
There aren’t many potential head coaches with ties to Rodgers. There’s current Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, who the Jets aren’t expected to pursue if he’s fired. Rodgers spent a few years with Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, though Stenavich has never called plays and doesn’t appear to be a top candidate for this hiring cycle. Rodgers likes Ulbrich, but Ulbrich is 1-5 and has overseen one of the worst defenses in football since taking over as interim head coach. Rodgers is known to respect Mike Vrabel, but Vrabel will likely have his choice of jobs and may not want to inherit an aging quarterback.
So if Rodgers wants to play for the Jets — or anywhere in 2025, really — he’ll probably have to adjust his expectations for what a coach-quarterback marriage should look like.
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Aaron Rodgers goes
There aren’t many concerns financially if the Jets decide to move on from Rodgers. He no longer has any guaranteed money after this season. If the Jets were to cut or trade him, or if he retires, there would be a significant dead cap fee ($49 million) regardless of whether they have to pay it all in 2025 or spread it out over 2025 and ’26 by Rodgers to cut off any designation after June 1.
What are their options to replace him?
Tyrod Taylor is under contract for another year at a $6.8 million cap hit, and Taylor will almost certainly return in 2025 as most of his salary is guaranteed. There are worse options to bring up as a potential bridge quarterback, and Taylor is no stranger to that role: He’s done it in the past for Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert.
Jordan Travis is also on the roster, but the 2024 fifth-round pick hasn’t practiced since late last year at Florida State, when he broke his leg. The Jets have given no indication that he is closer to returning; Then-head coach Robert Saleh said during training camp that Travis’ recovery took longer than expected. Unless the Jets take a look at him at some point this offseason (which seems unlikely), he’s best viewed as a lottery ticket and someone to consider as an option beyond 2025.
This free agency lesson isn’t particularly exciting: Sam Darnold is a top option, and that’s not happening. There are veteran backups with starting experience like Jacoby Brissett, Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo, none of whom would necessarily be an upgrade over Taylor. Russell Wilson turns 36 next week and is declining, but if he continues to play well for Pittsburgh, the Steelers will likely find a way to keep him. Justin Fields is an option, but his ceiling as a pitcher is capped. Daniel Jones will likely be available as well.
As for the rookie class, the Jets are currently projected to finish seventh at Tankathon, clumped into a nine-team group with two or three wins. It’s also not considered a great quarterback class. Based on Dane Brugler’s latest rankings, potential first-round options (either in the Top 10 or via trade back) include Miami’s Cam Ward, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. In the second round, Quinn Ewers of Texas and Drew Allar of Penn State are among the options.
Rodgers can change the narrative if he plays well in the last six games and the Jets win some games, but as things stand now I expect they will have a new starting quarterback in 2025: Taylor and/or a rookie .
(Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)
