Total Pro Sports
The New York Jets ended Aaron Rodgers’ tenure, disappointing fans and halting the game-changing transformation they had anticipated. The four-time MVP came to New York with high expectations, but injuries and inconsistent play led the team to cut ties. However, moving on from Rodgers comes at a steep cost. The Jets had signed him to a three-year, $112.5 million deal, and now they’re taking a major financial hit.
Rodgers’ contract carried an average annual value of $37.5 million, with $75 million guaranteed. He was set to make another $37.5 million in 2025, though that money wasn’t guaranteed. Instead of keeping him, the Jets decided to release him and will now absorb a $49 million dead cap hit. To ease the impact, they’re designating him as a post-June 1 cut, which allows them to spread the financial loss over two years. Until June 1, the team will carry a $23.5 million cap hit, which will then drop to $14 million, freeing up $9.5 million in cap space. Had Rodgers chosen to retire, the financial outcome would have been the same.
Rodgers’ time with the Jets didn’t go as planned. After the Green Bay Packers traded him in April 2023, he played only four snaps in his debut before he tore his Achilles, ending his season before it even began. He returned in 2024 and played all 17 games, but his performance never reached the level many had hoped for. He finished the year with 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, good enough to be the third-best single-season stat line in Jets history but not enough to justify keeping him.
The team’s struggles weren’t just about Rodgers. The Jets finished the season with a 5-12 record, and their offense lacked consistency. Rodgers also dealt with more injuries, including a hamstring issue that limited his movement. His QBR of 48 ranked 25th among NFL quarterbacks. Given the team’s poor results, the Jets’ new leadership, head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, decided to go in a different direction, leaving Rodgers’ future in the league uncertain.
With Rodgers gone, the Jets have big decisions to make. They hold the 7th overall pick in the upcoming draft and could look for a young quarterback to build around. As of now, their quarterback room includes veteran Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis, who missed his rookie season due to injury, and Adrian Martinez, who signed a futures contract in January.
Rodgers’ departure also signals a fresh start for the organization. The team has made major changes, including hiring Tanner Engstrand as offensive coordinator. Jets owner Woody Johnson acknowledged Rodgers’ time with the team, saying, “His arrival in 2023 was met with unbridled excitement, and I will forever be grateful that he chose to join us.” However, despite the initial optimism, New York fans will likely remember his tenure as an expensive gamble that didn’t pay off, forcing the Jets to continue...
