The Jets are officially set to part ways with Aaron Rodgers. To little surprise, that call is anticipated to also include the departure of wideout Davante Adams after his transient Rodgers reunion at the tip of the 2024 campaign.
Acquiring Adams was one in every of many moves the Jets made geared toward providing Rodgers with former Packers teammates; one in every of the others was the free agent addition of Allen Lazard. That four-year, $44MM investment didn’t pay of as expected, and the choice to release Rodgers could thoroughly see Lazard cut as well. ESPN’s Wealthy Cimini writes Lazard (together with Adams) will “probably” be released within the near future.
Such a move from the brand new regime of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn wouldn’t come as a surprise. Lazard got here to Recent York with high expectations after his final Packers campaign saw him post career-highs in receptions (60) and yards (788). In 2023, though, the 29-year-old’s production saw a steep decline. A full season from Rodgers this past yr led to a return to an extent of Lazard’s impact (including six receiving touchdowns), but on the entire his tenure has not gone as planned.
Lazard is owed a non-guaranteed base salary of $11MM in 2025 and ’26; releasing him before June 1 would essentially create an excellent split between cap savings and dead money. Taking the post-June 1 route – because the team will likely do in Rodgers’ case -would give the Jets $11MM in savings against a small dead cap charge, but those funds wouldn’t be freed up until June 2. Parting ways with Adams and Lazard would depart receiver as a position of focus this offseason, but Garrett Wilson‘s future with the organization may turn out to be less of a talking point moving forward.
The latter was connected to a possible trade request late within the season, with perceived tension with Rodgers and competition for targets from Adams seen as key reasons. With Wilson set to now not have Rodgers as a teammate or (presumably) Adams vying for the highest spot on the WR depth chart, though, Cimini notes that Wilson is more likely to be more amenable to creating a long-term Jets commitment. The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Yr is eligible for an extension for the primary time this offseason, and his production given the extent of quarterback play Recent York has had over his three-year profession could put him line for a significant raise.
Wilson, 24, has topped 1,000 yards in each of his Jets campaigns. He shall be expected to stay a point of interest of Recent York’s passing attack through a minimum of 2026, for the reason that team will little doubt exercise his $16.63MM fifth-year option this spring provided no trade request emerges over the approaching weeks. An extended-term accord would check in at a much higher price tag given the upward trend within the receiver market over the past few years. Questions on the Ohio State product’s willingness to stay with the Jets will little doubt linger until such a pact is worked out, but when the brand new decision-makers start over on offense Wilson will remain a central figure for the unit.
