There was a lot hypothesis about whether or not Aaron Rodgers will stay with the Jets after the 2024 season.
If his final couple of video games are any indication, the four-time NFL MVP is making a superb case for why he ought to stay Gang Inexperienced’s signal-caller in 2025.
When requested if he’d be stunned if Rodgers doesn’t play subsequent season, Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich believes the 20-year veteran nonetheless has one thing left in his tank.
“After seeing him run around the last couple of weeks and getting his mobility back and getting his health back, every part of me is like, ‘this guy got a couple of years at the very least in him,’” Ulbrich stated. “It is going to be a conversation between him and him.
“If he maintains good health, he’s a guy that I would love to see play longer just cause he’s such a special player.”
In Sunday’s 32-25 victory in opposition to the Jaguars, Rodgers accomplished 16-of-30 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Every week prior, through the Jets’ time beyond regulation loss to the Dolphins, Rodgers recorded his first 300-yard sport since 2021. He completed 27-of-39 for 339 yards and a landing.
Throughout the first 11 weeks of the Jets season, Rodgers and the offense struggled to attain 20 factors in lots of video games. Gang Inexperienced averaged 18.8 factors per sport and was one of many worst offenses within the NFL.
However the Jets have averaged 29 factors per sport over the last two weeks. As well as, Rodgers has thrown 4 touchdowns and nil interceptions. Additionally, after not being listed on the harm report for the earlier three weeks, Rodgers’ mobility has returned after battling knee, hamstring, and ankle accidents.
On Sunday, Rodgers led the Jets in dashing with 45 yards. Within the earlier 13 weeks, Rodgers recorded simply 49 yards mixed.
In contrast to at first of the season, Rodgers, 41, has been sliding across the pocket, giving his receivers extra time to get open down the sector. He has additionally used his legs to assist push the ball down the sector to broad receivers Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson, very similar to he did throughout his prime with the Packers.
Relying on how the season’s ultimate three weeks go, the Jets could have to think about holding Rodgers for 2025. Finally, Jets proprietor Woody Johnson and the brand new basic supervisor and coach will make that call collectively.
Nevertheless, when requested two weeks in the past whether or not he wanted to audition to maintain his job through the season’s ultimate video games, Rodgers responded bluntly.
“That is ridiculous, with all due respect,” Rodgers stated. “If they want me to stay, fantastic. If it takes these five games, maybe they don’t know what I bring to the table. That being said, I’d love to play really friggin well.”
Rodgers’s contract has zero assured cash remaining previous this season. Nevertheless, if the Jets launch Rodgers, they might inherit a $49 million cap hit. Rodgers might additionally retire, however the Jets would nonetheless be accountable for a similar wage cap hit.
Earlier this month, Rodgers was thought of a protracted shot to stay with the Jets after this season, in response to NFL Community. But when the Jets had been to complete 6-11 or 7-10 and Rodgers and Adams proceed to play effectively, that might change the tone contained in the workforce’s facility.
To finish the season, the Jets have two difficult video games in opposition to the Rams and on the highway in opposition to the Payments, who look like the most effective workforce in soccer. Then Gang Inexperienced will host Miami within the season finale.
There gained’t be many free-agent choices for the Jets’ new basic supervisor and coach. Vikings quarterback and former Jets first-round choose Sam Darnold will possible be the best choice, however a return to Florham Park doesn’t appear possible.
Different quarterback free agent choices embody Steelers’ Justin Fields, Browns’ Jameis Winston, Jaguars’ Mac Jones, and Colts’ Joe Flacco, who performed three seasons with the Jets.
The draft choices for quarterbacks aren’t nice both exterior Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, who’re anticipated to be the primary quarterbacks taken within the 2025 NFL Draft. Penn State’s Drew Allar and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier have already introduced they are going to return for his or her senior seasons.
If the 2025 NFL Draft had been held as we speak, the Jets would choose eighth, in response to Tankathon, placing them out of vary for Ward and Sanders. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is trending in the direction of coming into the 2025 NFL Draft, in response to 247Sports, which might probably make him the third quarterback chosen. Nevertheless, Milroe isn’t projected to be a high 10 at this second.
As Rodgers stated throughout his post-game press convention on Sunday, it’s “too little, too late” for the Jets after that they had Tremendous Bowl aspirations to begin the season. Nevertheless, whether or not with the Jets or elsewhere, Rodgers will audition for a beginning job in 2025 through the season’s ultimate three weeks.
“Aaron is one of the best to ever do it, the best to ever do it,” Jets defensive sort out Solomon Thomas stated. “It’s so cool to be his teammate. It’s so cool to watch him do what he does at the age that he is and how long he has been doing it, 20 years in the league, and he is still out there making plays the way that he is.
“Whether it’s him rushing yesterday on game-winning drives or out there slinging the ball like he’s young, it is really cool to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised if Aaron is done because he really has nothing left to prove, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Aaron wants to keep playing because he definitely has it.
“However he does and however he finishes, he will probably be the best to ever do it. And that’s really cool and he has earned that.”
