With out Rodgers, what’s subsequent for the Jets at quarterback?

Be aware: This story initially posted Sunday. The Jets formally introduced that they’re shifting on from Rodgers on Thursday.

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The numbers behind Aaron Rodgers’ time with the Jets

Try some stats from Aaron Rodgers, who is anticipated to half methods with the Jets.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Aaron Rodgers period is over. Now, what?

The New York Jets, anticipated to half methods this week with the long run Corridor of Famer, are again in an all-too-familiar place — quarterback purgatory. They do not have a younger inheritor obvious, and there is no apparent reply in free company or the draft. When the Aaron Glenn period debuts in September, the beginning quarterback can be … effectively, it is a February thriller.

It might be Tyrod Taylor, however that is hardly a certain factor.

Taylor, 35, has 58 profession begins and has performed effectively in his restricted alternatives, however he has a historical past of accidents and hasn’t began greater than six video games in a season since 2017. He performed solely 36 snaps final season in two mop-up outings, throwing three touchdowns.

He could be a bridge quarterback, however that may be stretching it. The Jets even have 2024 fifth-round choose Jordan Travis, however he missed his whole rookie season after a devastating decrease left leg damage at Florida State. At this level, he is seen as a developmental prospect.

Search for the Jets so as to add a veteran and, fairly probably, a draft choose. This is not unfamiliar territory for brand new basic supervisor Darren Mougey, who skilled the identical factor in his earlier job when the Denver Broncos minimize Russell Wilson final 12 months and absorbed a large cap hit.

The 2025 free agent market is skinny, with Sam Darnold, Wilson, Justin Fields and Daniel Jones at the moment among the many high names.

Darnold, coming off a profession 12 months with the Minnesota Vikings, will generate curiosity throughout the league, however there’s little likelihood of him re-signing with the Jets. They drafted him third general in 2018, and the three-year marriage wasn’t fruitful for both aspect.

Kirk Cousins may shake free from the Atlanta Falcons, who’ve dedicated to Michael Penix Jr. after the making the change final season. Cousins is an attention-grabbing chance as a result of his former Vikings GM, Rick Spielman, is now the Jets’ senior soccer adviser. He’d be cost-effective. The Falcons are on the hook for his $27.5 million base wage (assured), so the Jets must pay solely the veterans minimal, roughly $1.2 million.

The Jets will should be in a cap-conscious mode. Releasing or buying and selling Rodgers will end in $49 million in useless cap expenses. That may be unfold over two years in the event that they designate him as a June 1 minimize, which they will execute initially of the league 12 months March 12.

Rodgers hasn’t publicly dedicated to taking part in soccer subsequent season, however the cap ramifications would be the identical if he retires.

The draft affords little hope for locating a surefire alternative. Selecting seventh, the Jets most likely will not have a shot on the high two consensus quarterbacks in Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. Evaluators say there is a vital drop-off to the following tier of prospects, led by Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller even projected Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers to the Jets in Spherical 2 final week.

What does Glenn need in his quarterback?

“A winner,” he stated. “Psychological and bodily toughness.”

Glenn skilled an identical state of affairs as a Jets participant in 1998, when then-coach Invoice Parcells, in his second season, launched Neil O’Donnell. He was a confirmed starter, and there was an enormous cap hit, however O’Donnell wasn’t Parcells’ cup of tea as a pacesetter.

It was a dangerous transfer, however the Jets wound up with Vinny Testaverde, a post-June 1 minimize by the Baltimore Ravens. Testaverde, 35 on the time, delivered a profession 12 months in 1998, main the Jets to the AFC Championship Recreation.

Now, practically three a long time later, Glenn wants to seek out his Testaverde. Possibly it is Taylor. Or possibly it is Cousins at 36. Cousins stated final week {that a} beforehand undisclosed shoulder damage induced his late-season hunch that led to the change to Penix.

Evidently, Glenn did not assume Rodgers was proper for his program. A number of expertise evaluators in latest days informed ESPN that Rodgers nonetheless could be a productive starter, however they questioned about his slot in Glenn’s tradition.

“Aaron [Rodgers] is not a nasty man — he is nice — however personalities conflict whenever you’re making an attempt to ascertain energy,” one opposing coach stated.

Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, each third on the Jets’ single-season checklist, however this resolution went past numbers. It concerned age, wage cap, scheme match and tradition match. Glenn is anticipated to run a tighter ship than the earlier regime, and he made it clear in his introductory information convention that he needs 53 gamers, not one megastar and 52 supporting actors.

“People, this is not about Aaron Rodgers,” Glenn informed reporters.

The Jets went 5-12 final season — two wins fewer than 2023, when he missed 16 video games due to his torn left Achilles.

“They received 5 video games with him and 7 video games with out him,” former Jets star Keyshawn Johnson. “What’s it that he brings to the desk at 42 years outdated [in December] with an Achilles and a brand new coach and a brand new setting and a brand new tradition?

“He threw a receiver [Mike Williams] beneath the bus and ran it again twice over him. He went to Egypt throughout minicamp. He goes on these ayahuasca issues. He is at all times pointing to [his coaches]. It is an excessive amount of. For my part, if I used to be taking the job, he ain’t price it to me.”

Now the Jets say goodbye as they appear to rebuild at quarterback as soon as once more.