The New York Jets and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers are expected to part ways in the offseason. Reports state that his relationship with owner Woody Johnson is fractured.
Current indications are that Rodgers plans to continue playing football, but not for the Jets. With general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh relieved of their duties earlier this campaign, the Jets will be under new direction, which likely means a new quarterback.
Rodgers will be a polarizing quarterback on the free-agent market. The future Hall of Famer is regressing but is still a starting-caliber signal-caller. The former Cal standout has thrown 17 touchdowns versus seven interceptions this season.
We've identified three potential landing spots for Rodgers, once his inevitable departure from the Jets becomes official.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns can't possibly return Deshaun Watson as their starter next season. Jameis Winston has done an admirable job as a fill-in quarterback over the past couple of weeks but is scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency. Winston may possess an interest in feeling out the market.
Watson's fully guaranteed contract makes landing a veteran like Rodgers nearly impossible unless Rodgers agrees to take a sizable pay cut. We saw Russell Wilson do something similar to join the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this offseason. Thursday's win over those Steelers bumped the Browns down to the No. 8 overall spot in the 2025 NFL Draft. If they miss out on drafting Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, Cleveland will have to get creative with next year's starting QB plans. Kevin Stefanski is an offensive-minded coach who could maximize Rodgers’ remaining skill set.
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans sophomore quarterback Will Levis has recently flashed some on-field development. The issue? Levis began the season so poorly that the 3-8 Titans are already out of postseason contention. Head coach Brian Callahan may be hesitant to hitch his wagon to the unpredictable quarterback for a second consecutive campaign.
General manager Ran Carthon spent the offseason building a competitive roster via the acquisition of expensive pros such as Calvin Ridley and L'Jarius Sneed. Tennessee's roster is ready for a veteran quarterback like Rodgers. Callahan has a history of working with veteran QBs, with Peyton Manning, Derek Carr, and Matthew Stafford being some of the names on his resume.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Speaking of those Steelers, their quarterback plans for next season are currently unclear. Both Wilson and Justin Fields are on expiring one-year contracts. Wilson is playing quality football for the Steelers right now, but his asking price could be astronomical compared to the heavy discount he gave Pittsburgh last offseason.
Impending negotiations between Wilson and the Steelers leave wiggle room for a breakdown in discussions. Furthermore, head coach Mike Tomlin is a bold leader who is unafraid to make sweeping changes. Look no further than Tomlin's decision to bench Fields in favor of Wilson earlier this campaign despite the Steelers’ winning record. He's a strong coach who could keep Rodgers' difficult personality in check.
