What could Aaron Rodgers possibly want? He is an All-Pro, Super Bowl-winning, Hall of Fame-bound star quarterback. He is as wealthy beyond belief. The media loves him, and he regularly appears on sports shows and podcasts. And he has the adulation of fans from coast to coast. Oh well, we can skip that one for now. What he doesn’t have is a place to ply his trade in 2025. After a disappointing season for both Rodgers and the New York Jets, Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, the team’s new head coach and general manager, informed Rodgers that he was not part of the team’s future.
Let us evaluate the current situation. What is Mr Rodgers’s next professional move? And what are the Jets’ plans for their next franchise quarterback?
Rodgers and the Jets Current Situation
How did we get here? After the Jets traded for Rodgers in 2023, he signed a three-year, $112.5 million contract. From there, it was all downhill for him and New York. He missed almost the entire 2023 season with a torn Achilles tendon in his left ankle. He came back, and though his stats were decent (28 touchdown passes and 3,897 yards passing), the team went 5-12, and many times, he looked like a 41-year-old quarterback recovering from an injury.
In addition, he failed to attend a mandatory June minicamp, choosing to travel to Egypt instead. And after the firing of coach Robert Saleh, he made some veiled criticism of Jet’s owner Woody Johnson, inferring that Johnson’s teenage sons were running the team.
The Jets owe Rodgers $49 million. How it is distributed is really the question at hand. If they opt to release or trade him before the June 1 deadline, they owe that amount in a lump sum. This would result in a net decrease of $25.5 million in salary cap space. If they release him after June 1 (a trade is unlikely after this date), the cap hit would drop to $14 million, which creates $9.5 million million in cap space for New York. However, in this scenario, the team would then be subject to a $35 million dead-cap hit for 2026,
If he retires, he will not receive any base salary or roster bonuses the team owes him. However, any prorated bonus money the Jets paid him would count against their cap. This scenario is unlikely, as upon a 2025 retirement, Rodgers would forfeit a $35 million option bonus.
Possible Destinations for Rodgers
The rumor mill is working overtime playing the parlor game of where Rodgers will play in 2025. Here are the usual suspects.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are the team most mentioned as a landing spot for the future Hall of Famer. Pittsburgh will likely move on from last year’s quarterback duo of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, creating an opening for Rodgers. The team has a strong defense and a solid running game. Finding a quarterback ready to start on Day 1 through the NFL Draft is unlikely as the Steelers possess the 21st pick. And Rodgers is the best of a thin free-agent market.
Las Vegas Raiders
With Tom Brady now part of the Raiders ownership team, he will be looking for a quarterback to help the team become competitive. New head coach, Pete Carroll, would be ecstatic about having a ready-to-play quarterback at his disposal. However, Rodgers’s time in Sin City could be shortlived because Las Vegas has the sixth pick in this April’s draft, making it likely that they will use this slot to draft their future franchise quarterback.
New York Giants
Or Rodgers could stay in the New York/New Jersey area and join the struggling New York Giants. Their need for a quarterback is obvious. And with Coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen fighting to save their jobs, they might view Aaron as their best option to win immediately. He would have a talented target in Malik Nabers, and the team could draft a young quarterback with their third overall pick and let him learn from the master.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are likely to move on from veteran Geno Smith, but his replacement won’t come in this year’s draft as they don’t have a selection until the 18th pick. Seattle was 10-7 last season, meaning Rodgers would be headed to a city with a competitive team. And the receiving trio of D.K. Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett would give him ample opportunities to air out the football.
Other possible interested teams include the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and New Orleans Saints.
Next Jets Quarterback
And what signal-caller will come in to replace Rodgers? In-house options include veteran Tyrod Taylor or 2024 and fifth-round draft pick Jordan Travis, although neither of these players appears to be the team’s first choice. Then there is the Steelers duo of Fields and Wilson, although they both had disappointing seasons in 2024.
The Jets could hand the reins over to former top draft pick Sam Darnold, who had an outstanding season playing for the Minnesota Vikings. But his end-of-the-year collapse might give the team pause for thought. And the mercurial Jameis Winston is a possibility, although his moment in the sun has likely passed. And with the seventh overall pick in the draft, they probably will not have a shot at the top two available quarterbacks, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward.
Closing
So, while the Jets search for their next quarterback, Aaron Rodgers hits the road to find his new team, hoping there is still some magic left in his right arm.
