The New York Jets relieved general manager Joe Douglas of his duties on Tuesday afternoon. The decision arrived approximately six weeks after head coach Robert Saleh was fired. A new regime will spearhead the Jets in 2025. A fresh start is required, meaning veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers should be released from his contract in the offseason.
Meddling owner Woody Johnson was at the forefront of the decision to acquire Rodgers in a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers in the first place. It's backfired miserably, with the Jets currently nursing a 3-8 record. They're much closer to clinching a premium first-round pick than competing for a Super Bowl, which was the intention behind luring Rodgers to East Rutherford.
Updated: Douglas’ fate was likely sealed when he wasn’t consulted on the Saleh firing. He knew he was dead man walking. Source says it would be a shock if Woody brings back Rodgers. #Jets https://t.co/IimqsIGPON
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) November 19, 2024
The Athletic dropped a bombshell report on Tuesday indicating that Douglas had already been powerless before his firing. Johnson has been involved in personnel-based decisions and even recommended that the team bench Rodgers in favor of veteran journeyman backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor following a low-scoring loss to the Denver Broncos. The writing had been on the wall for this era of Jets football.
Douglas' departure significantly lowers Rodgers' chances of returning to the Jets in 2025. In fairness, the future Hall of Fame quarterback may possess little interest in continuing this relationship anyway. The next GM and head coach will likely prefer an opportunity to hand-select their own quarterback. The Jets are currently slated to own the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They've just joined the handful of favorites to draft one of Jalen Milroe, Cam Ward, or Shedeur Sanders.
With a totally new regime in 2025, it likely means Aaron Rodgers won't be back. A new GM and new HC will probably want their own QB. Rodgers has a good relationship with Douglas, and last week he advocated for Jeff Ulbrich -- and it's hard to imagine him wanting to even be back.…
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) November 19, 2024
Rodgers is in the second season of a three-year contract worth $112.5 million. The bloated deal is scheduled to void after the 2025 campaign, though the cap hits are spread out through 2029 to minimize the immediate impact. Releasing Rodgers would place the Jets on the hook for a $49 million dead cap charge in 2025—or an easier-to-swallow $14 million penalty in 2025 with an additional $35 million setback in 2026 if designated as a post-June 1 cut. Regardless, the next regime is facing a total that approaches $50 million to sever ties with the regressing veteran quarterback.
QB Aaron Rodgers has $49M of dead cap against a $23.5M cap hit with the #Jets in 2025.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) October 29, 2024
If either side decides to move on, NYJ can designate him a Post 6/1 release or retirement, taking on hits of $14M in 2025, $35M in 2026.
Moving on from Rodgers would initially hamstring the new regime, but it's worth acknowledging teams have found success in similar situations in recent seasons. The margin for error is just nonexistent. The Broncos absorbed a record-breaking $85 million in dead cap charges when they moved on from Russell Wilson, including $53 million in 2024. Denver is currently 6-5 because it drafted an effective rookie quarterback on a cost-controlled contract in Bo Nix. New York could likewise see 2025 as a transitional year with a first-year signal-caller.
The decision to acquire Rodgers has blown up in the Jets' faces. With both Douglas and Saleh out, it'll be a new era in East Rutherford. Johnson can't possibly force a 41-year-old Rodgers on the next regime. They deserve an opportunity to make their own quarterbacking decisions without Johnson meddling.
