Jets officially began new era post Aaron Rodgers!
While the New York Jets didn’t officially announce it, the Aaron Rodgers’ era with the New York Jets has come to an end. For the first time in his long career, the 4-time MVP is a free man who can sign wherever he wants should he still desire to continue his playing career.
As for the Jets, the two-year experiment with Rodgers under center failed miserably. What started out with Rodgers making Super Bowl hints by stating in a media interview that the one Lombardi Trophy of the franchise looks lonely ended up with him going 6-12 in just 18 games over two years, with postseason play nowhere in sight.
To complicate matters even more, Rodgers came with demands, basically recruiting receivers Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams over two seasons, but none of those moves panned out.
Through this ordeal, the Jets now have to lose out on $49 million dead money. Since he is designated as a post June-01 cut, they will have to bear a cap hit of $21 million until then, following which it will come down to $14 million. However, the dead money in 2026 will be $36 million.
Be that as it may, Rodgers is now out of New York and the Jets can put the last couple of years behind them whilst looking at the future. It has been quite some time since the Gang Green has been treated to quality football. Will a shift in direction be the answer to their problems?
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With Rodgers gone, the Jets are now looking to turn a new leaf. The first step they have taken to address the problem at hand is the signing of former Bears and Steelers quarterback Justin Fields. This signing is completely different from what they had with Rodgers in 2023 and 2024.
Fields will provide the Jets with much more athleticism, and youthfulness. It will open the playbook for a different type of quarterback, one who is one of the better dual-threat signal callers in the league. New York will now be able to implement several designed runs, something that they didn’t have earlier.
What Fields lacks is the true arm talent and strength of Rodgers, but mobility is a big factor in today’s game, and he will be able to provide that in abundance. Last season, Fields got a chance to start in 6 games in which he led the Steelers to a respectable 4-2 record. He had 1,106 passing yards to go with 5 touchdowns and just 1 interception. The passing touchdowns were a bit low, but that is also because he rushed for a touchdown on 5 more occasions.
Furthermore, there will be a big shift in the overall personality of the team as well. Rodgers is known to make controversial statements every now and then in the media, but that will not be the case with Fields who is much more calm and poised. New York is gearing up for a culture change, but whether it will be a positive change or not is at the heart of the question.
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As for Rodgers, the 41-year-old is playing on borrowed time, but he has been heavily linked to Pittsburgh as his next destination. The Steelers are without a starting caliber quarterback, and if Pittsburgh wants a shot at the Lombardi this year, Rodgers could be the best bet left. There don’t seem to be too many options left at this point for the Super Bowl-winner, but the New York Giants could offer Rodgers the chance to remain in the city, while the Minnesota Vikings was the same path his predecessor Brett Favre took, even though that could be a long shot.
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