Aaron Rodgers is the subject of a costly decision made by the New York Jets.
Rodgers will be released by the Jets on Wednesday. The Jets will have to deduct $49 million in dead money from their salary limit over the following two years as a result of the move. They will incur a dead cap hit of $14 million in 2025 and a higher dead cap hit of $35 million in 2026 since they are labeling Rodgers as a post-June 1 cut.
Ultimately, Rodgers’ tenure with the Jets will go down as a bust.
With much excitement, Rodgers was traded to the Jets in April 2023. However, he missed the entire season after tearing his Achilles tendon on his first drive in the first game. Then, in 2024, Rodgers was striving to regain his position on the squad and make amends. His Jets were 5-12 even though he tossed for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Nothing helped, even if New York made significant moves like trading for Davante Adams and sacking head coach Robert Saleh.
Finding a rookie quarterback to start is usually the Jets’ workaround, even though they are significant numbers. When the Denver Broncos released Russell Wilson last season, they were able to do so by taking a significant dead money cap penalty. Bo Nix, a rookie who had a successful debut season, took his place.
Even though they are big numbers, the Jets often find a way to start a rookie quarterback. Last season, the Denver Broncos were able to cut Russell Wilson by accepting a sizable dead money cap penalty. He was replaced by Bo Nix, a rookie who had a strong first season.
