By Ben Rosen
On Feb. 14, the New York Jets announced they would be parting ways with quarterback Aaron Rodgers after two seasons. Rodgers, who was traded by the Green Bay Packers to the Jets in 2023, will now become a free agent. In his time with the Jets, Rodgers played in 18 games, throwing for 3,897 yards and 28 passing touchdowns.
In a statement released by the team, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and Jets general manager Darren Mougey said, “It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures.”
The Jets noted in their press release that they currently have three quarterbacks on their roster: Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis, and Adrian Martinez. All three are currently under contract with the Jets.
Taylor is the only one in the quarterback room to have appeared in a regular-season game. In his career, he has made 58 starts for five different franchises.
The Jets have the No. 7 pick in the 2025 National Football League (NFL) draft. They will likely need to trade up to draft a quarterback in the first round.
NFL draft analyst Chad Reuter wrote the Jets need to “decide whether they can find a long-term answer in this year’s draft.”
If the Jets want to trade up, it will require a lot of draft capital and finding a trade partner to make a deal with. Based on past similar trades, it would cost the Jets their 2026 first-round pick and additional future or present day one and day two picks to move up from No. 7 to the No. 2 or No. 1 pick. The Tennessee Titans hold the first overall pick, while the Cleveland Browns hold the second overall pick.
Regarding free-agent quarterbacks, a reunion with Sam Darnold is considered unlikely. However, Justin Fields could sign with the Jets. Zack Rosenblatt, the Jets beat writer for The Athletic, suggested this is a recent column.
Rosenblatt wrote, “If they signed [Fields] it shouldn’t stop them from taking a quarterback in the draft too.”
ESPN reports the Jets have $20.1 million of salary cap space available at the moment.
“I think everybody understands that it’s gonna come down to a [general manager] and a coach and myself and whether we all want to do a dance together or if it’s not in the cards,” Rodgers said to reporters on The Athletic.
Rodgers is the current NFL all-time leader in interception percentage, adjusted yards gained per pass attempt, and passer rating. In his career, he has 62,952 passing yards and 503 passing touchdowns. He is also a four-time AP NFL MVP and a Super Bowl champion.
Rodgers is seventh on the all-time passing yards list and fifth on the all-time passing touchdowns list. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre are the only quarterbacks ahead of Rodgers on both lists. Only Manning has more AP NFL MVP awards than Rodgers does. Rodgers will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day.
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