The NY Jets' 3-7 start to the 2024 season has shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that this team, led by Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams for the last few weeks, is incapable of breaking the team's playoff curse. It seems like 2024 will be the 14th straight season without a playoff appearance and the beginning of a long rebuild.
While it looks like there are sweeping changes coming to this organization, the Jets could theoretically run it back with Rodgers in what will be his age-41 season and try to give it one last go.
The Jets traded for Adams to be more than a one-year rental, even if the last few games have shown this team is not going to win anything as constructed. Even with those losses piling up, the latest rumors seem to suggest that Rodgers and the gang could be back in 2025.
According to Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson, a respectable source claims that Adams' trade to New York only went through due to the team promising that Rodgers would be back in 2025. This team doesn't work as currently constructed, yet the Jets seem more than willing to double down.
NY Jets may have promised Davante Adams that Aaron Rodgers will be back in 2025
Rodgers' retirement would have dire financial implications for the Jets. Even in the ideal situation, in which he would be designated as a post-June 1 retirement, his $49 million dead cap charge would be spread out as a $14 million penalty in 2025 and a whopping $36 million hit in 2026 — not ideal for a rebuilding team.
While Rodgers' football smarts and accuracy would give him a higher floor than most NFL quarterbacks out there, it's clear he isn't the same player anymore. He has taken major steps backward in both making plays on the run and throwing the ball deep, which has neutered the team's offense.
Adams is eyeing a championship, and he isn't going to get it sticking around with Tyrod Taylor, a rookie quarterback, or whomever the Jets end up leaning on in 2025 should Rodgers end up leaving. The Jets may get some assets back for him, but the initial acquisition will be a complete failure.
Having Rodgers and Adams makes for an interesting combination, but both of them are past their prime. With the Jets' roster clearly not good enough to contend for a championship, one wonders as to the point of leaning on these two in 2025.
