Rich Cimini, ESPN staff writer
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers was shocked when the Green Bay Packers drafted Jordan Love as his heir apparent in 2020. He wouldn’t be surprised if the New York Jets do the same this spring.
In fact, Rodgers said he would have taken it if he were still playing.
While Rodgers reiterated Wednesday that he hasn’t decided on his future yet, he said his decision won’t be affected by the Jets’ plans. He said he’s not opposed to the idea of helping develop a quality quarterback.
“When they drafted Jordan, I felt like I almost got benched — and I won the MVP a few years later, so that’s what the league is like,” Rodgers said after practice. “You have to prove you can play every week and keep doing it.
“So if [the Jets] Ask me back and they pick a guy and if I’m playing, I’m going to coach him and I’m going to try to play well and put him on the bench. “
Rodgers was 36 when the Packers drafted Love in the first round, and the future Hall of Famer won his third and fourth MVPs in 2020 and 2021. He was replaced by Love in 2023.
This time, things are a little different. Rodgers is 41 and has had a down year by his standards. His future is uncertain. The Jets are going through a regime change, and Rodgers said he won’t rush into anything.
“I’m going to take some time after the year – unless I’m released immediately – but whether I want to play or not, I’m still going to take some time,” he said. “But no matter what, I’m going to take some time to get over it.”
The Jets (4-10) will face the Los Angeles Rams (8-6) at MetLife Stadium with potentially two top-40 picks and the possibility of adding a quarterback. Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor (35) and rookie Jordan Travis (non-football injured list) are under contract through 2025, but none are considered long-term answers.
If Rodgers decides to continue playing, he said the Jets would be his first choice.
“I mean, there’s a lot of reasons why this would be a great opportunity, but I’ll see what happens,” Rodgers said. “There’s a lot still to happen. You’ve got to hire a general manager, you’ve got to hire a head coach and then whether I’m in the conversation or not or they move on. Whatever happens, I’m going to take my time and think about my future. ”
Rodgers’ 2025 cap charge isn’t outrageous ($23.5 million), but his option bonus expiring in 2025 is $35 million. He said he was not opposed to a second pay cut; he took a voluntary $34 million cut in 2023.
“Yeah, I’m open to everything,” he said.
If the Jets release or trade Rodgers, they’ll take a $49 million cap hit in 2025 — unless they spread it over two years by earmarking him for a cap hit on June 1. If he returns next season under his current contract, his fixed salary cap charge will soar to $63 million in 2026.
The feeling in the organization is that Rodgers won’t be back, but his recent performance may give the incoming regime a tougher decision to make. In the past two games, he has passed for 628 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, and has an overall quarterback rating of 76.8, ranking sixth in the league.
“It’s definitely closer to the Aaron Rodgers that we all know and expect him to be, but I still think he has a long way to go to get back to the MVP Rodgers that I know he is,” wide receiver Aaron Lazar De said. “He’s been great in the last two games, but I know he can get better.”
