Aaron Rodgers’ tenure with the New York Jets might be nearing its end.
According to NFL insider Dianna Russini on Saturday, the four-time MVP, who is dealing with injuries, may be placed on injured reserve or even benched in the coming weeks.
“Some around the league wouldn’t be shocked if Rodgers is released mid-season,” Russini added (via The Athletic). She also reported that Rodgers still intends to play in 2025 but not with the Jets.
A mutual separation could be advantageous, and despite a challenging 2024 campaign and the Jets’ continued playoff drought since 2021, Rodgers could remain a valuable option for teams needing a quarterback.
Here are three potential landing spots for the Super Bowl XLV MVP next season:
Las Vegas Raiders
Rodgers might reunite with former teammate Davante Adams, who was traded from the Raiders to the Jets earlier this season.
The pair played together for eight years in Green Bay, and Adams could entice Rodgers with a deal on his $11.4 million Las Vegas mansion.
The Raiders (2-8) have struggled to find a steady quarterback after moving on from Derek Carr. Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder have all seen playing time this season, collectively completing 66.6% of passes for 2,098 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
The team boasts young talent like rookie tight end Brock Bowers (70 catches for 703 yards and four touchdowns) and reliable wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, whose 71.4% contested catch rate ranks second among receivers with 55+ targets, according to Pro Football Focus.
Cleveland Browns
While the Browns are financially tied to Deshaun Watson due to his massive contract, his performance this season has been disappointing.
Before his season-ending ACL injury, Watson was among the league’s weakest quarterbacks.
Backup Jameis Winston has fared better, leading Cleveland to a 2-2 record in his starts and improving the team’s offensive output to 19.3 points and 360 yards per game over the past four weeks.
Although the Browns couldn’t offer Rodgers a lucrative deal, he might accept a backup role at this stage of his career. While adding Rodgers could bring distractions, some might argue it’s better to keep that chaos contained within one franchise rather than letting it affect several.
Minnesota Vikings
Rodgers could follow the path of Brett Favre, another former Packers quarterback, and sign with the Vikings.
Favre joined Minnesota in 2009 after his release from the Jets.
The Vikings’ interest in Rodgers might depend on the recovery of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who suffered a knee injury in the preseason and is expected to return in 2025.
In the meantime, Minnesota has relied on Sam Darnold, who signed a one-year, $10 million deal and has kept the Vikings competitive at 8-2. If McCarthy isn’t ready for the start of next season, Rodgers could serve as a valuable insurance option for a contending team.
