INDIANAPOLIS — On Tuesday, Jets brass spoke for the primary time because it was introduced they might be transferring on from Aaron Rodgers.
Earlier than a single query was requested, Jets normal supervisor Darren Mougey mentioned the crew didn’t give Rodgers any ultimatums with a purpose to keep on the crew.
“I’m not here to confirm or deny any rumors that happened during that process,” Mougey mentioned on the NFL scouting mix. “I will say this, there was never an ultimatum or rules of engagement for Aaron to potentially join the Jets again, that never happened.
“AG [Jets coach Aaron Glenn] and I had a lot of dialogue, a lot of conversations, a lot of good thoughts, and I just felt that, at the end of the day, it was the best thing for the Jets moving forward, just going in a different direction at the quarterback position.
“A lot of respect for Aaron Rodgers as a player and person, first ballot Hall of Famer, wish him nothing but the best. But that was a decision we made and look forward to kind of moving past that and into this next process here with free agency and the draft.”
Earlier this month, The Athletic reported that if Rodgers have been to return to the crew in 2025 issues must look loads completely different round Florham Park. Amongst these concessions have been Rodgers having to report to each single offseason program, and he must surrender his weekly phase on “The Pat McAfee Show” all through the season.
After coming back from a season-ending Achilles tear, Rodgers had an uneven marketing campaign final season. He handed for a decent 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. However he was additionally twenty fifth in QBR (48) and twentieth in quarterback score (90.5) after main the Jets to a disappointing 5-12 end.
After Mougey and Glenn formally grew to become the Jets’ normal supervisor and coach, they mentioned they might converse to Rodgers earlier than deciding about his future. Weeks later, Rodgers flew from California to New Jersey to satisfy with the brand new management crew after every was noncommittal about his standing throughout the introductory press convention in late January.
Then, on Feb. 9, Fox Sports activities reported that Rodgers had been knowledgeable that the crew was transferring in a distinct course. Gang Inexperienced made that transfer official on Feb. 13, wishing Rodgers nicely.
Now, the Jets will search for their subsequent franchise quarterback.
“We’re going to exhaust all options,” Mougey mentioned. “Obviously, there’s a lot of intriguing prospects here this week at the combine. We’ll dive into that some in free agency and we’ll keep all options open at quarterback and really every position on the team.”
This yr’s free-agent quarterback choices are restricted. Justin Fields, Sam Darnold and Jameis Winston are among the many quarterbacks who will probably be obtainable when the brand new league yr begins on March 12. The Jets might additionally begin Tyrod Taylor, who’s beneath contract with the crew. He was Rodgers’ backup a season in the past.
Taylor has began 58 video games in his profession, with most of these coming when he was with the Payments from 2015-17. Nonetheless, he has not performed in additional than 15 video games since 2017. Additionally, Taylor has been injury-prone all through his profession, together with when he suffered a rib harm in 2023 with the Giants.
Nonetheless, Taylor might doubtlessly be a placeholder till the Jets discover a long-term alternative at quarterback. Nonetheless, they don’t seem to be able to announce that Taylor would be the crew’s beginning quarterback as soon as the brand new season begins in September.
“We can’t say that,” Glenn mentioned. “We haven’t had free agency, we haven’t had the draft.
“Listen, Tyrod is a good player, we know that. I think he has won almost 50% of his games. He’s a guy that’s been in this league for a long time. It’s hard to because the draft and free agency hasn’t come yet.”
The Jets might doubtlessly draft a quarterback whereas conserving Taylor and/or including a veteran to the roster. They maintain the seventh total choose, which might put them in prime place to draft a quarterback in most drafts.
Nonetheless, Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders are the one two quarterbacks which are locks to be chosen in Spherical 1 and are anticipated to be off the board by the crew they choose. That has led many in numerous NFL circles to consider the Jets might transfer as much as draft Ward or Sanders.
Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart is also an possibility after turning heads throughout final month’s Senior Bowl in Cell.
“I think at seven right now, we’re going to be open to potentially moving up for a player or moving back,” Mougey mentioned. “All those options are on the table right now.”
