The New York Jets have officially moved on from Aaron Rodgers, but the decision comes at a steep financial cost. The team announced on Wednesday that they are releasing the four-time MVP quarterback, a move that will saddle them with a staggering $49 million in dead cap money over the next two seasons.
By designating Rodgers as a post-June 1 cut, the Jets will spread the damage across two years—taking a $14 million hit in 2025 and an even larger $35 million hit in 2026.
A Disastrous Ending to the Rodgers Era
Rodgers’ time in New York will go down as a failure, as the Jets never saw the success they envisioned when they traded for him in April 2023. The acquisition was met with tremendous fanfare, as the organization believed Rodgers could be the missing piece to elevate them into serious playoff contention.
However, the experiment collapsed almost immediately. Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on the very first drive of the 2023 season, missing the entire year. The injury was a crushing blow to the Jets, who had built their roster and expectations around him.
In 2024, Rodgers returned to action, but the results were far from what the Jets had hoped for. Though he managed to throw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, the team stumbled to a 5-12 record, failing to make the playoffs yet again. In an effort to fix their issues, the Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh and made a blockbuster trade to acquire Davante Adams, Rodgers’ former teammate from Green Bay. But even with Adams, New York’s offense struggled, and Rodgers couldn’t find the magic he once had.
With mounting frustrations and Rodgers turning 41 this year, the Jets ultimately decided to cut ties—even though doing so means taking a massive financial hit.
How the Jets Plan to Move Forward
Typically, when a team absorbs a significant dead cap hit, the best financial strategy is to draft a rookie quarterback on a cheap contract. The Denver Broncos followed this blueprint last year when they took a major dead cap hit to release Russell Wilson, then replaced him with rookie Bo Nix, who delivered a strong first season.
However, the Jets chose a different approach. Rather than turning to the NFL Draft, they signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract to take over as their new starting quarterback.
When combining Rodgers’ dead cap hit with Fields’ salary, the Jets are essentially paying the equivalent of a top-tier quarterback—but without the production of an elite player.
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What’s Next for Rodgers?
While the Jets are taking a financial loss, Rodgers is now a free agent, and speculation is swirling about where he might land next. Despite his age and recent injury history, he could still generate interest from quarterback-needy teams looking for a short-term veteran presence.
As for the Jets, their gamble on Rodgers leading them to Super Bowl contention will be remembered as one of the biggest disappointments in franchise history—and a financial burden they’ll be dealing with for the next two years.