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Despite reports of dysfunction within the organization last season, it doesn’t seem like much is going to change in 2024 regarding how much influence Aaron Rodgers has over the New York Jets.
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, one team source described the Jets as being “married to” Rodgers right now.
“Everything the Jets do,” Fowler wrote, “for better or worse, revolves around Aaron Rodgers, who could chart a path to the playoffs … or a full rebuild. Major roster decisions swirl around the quarterback.”
It’s not a surprise the Jets are going to keep doing everything in their power to ensure that Rodgers is happy.
In a Jan. 31 report from The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini about the 2023 Jets’ season, Rodgers was described as having more power over the roster than general manager Joe Douglas:
“It’s not uncommon for team decision-makers to consult star quarterbacks on potential roster additions, but the perception around the league was the Jets went beyond the norm. ‘Rodgers isn’t the assistant GM,’ one AFC general manager said. ‘Joe Douglas is the assistant GM.'”
Even before they acquired Rodgers, the Jets spent last offseason seemingly trying to make him happy by bringing in people he had established relationships with. Allen Lazard, Nathaniel Hackett and Tim Boyle previously played or coached for the Green Bay Packers.
Other former Packers players who were signed in 2023 include Billy Turner, Adrian Amos and Malik Taylor.
There was an air of excitement around the Jets going into last season that hasn’t happened in years.
After being acquired in an offseason trade with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers was arguably the best quarterback New York had since Ken O’Brien in the 1980s before he even took a snap.
Jets fans never got to see what their offense would look like with Rodgers. He ruptured his Achilles four snaps into the Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills and missed the remainder of the season.
Now, the Jets are entering this offseason with Rodgers at 40 years old. They currently project to have $7.6 million in cap space, though they can free up as much as $67 million to make roster improvements.
None of the moves New York might make will matter if the organization doesn’t have a better plan at quarterback than it did in 2023. That starts with Rodgers staying healthy, but it would also be in the organization’s best interest to find a capable backup given his age and coming off a major injury.
