The Jets are officially set to part ways with Aaron Rodgers. To little surprise, that decision is expected to also include the departure of wideout Davante Adams after his brief Rodgers reunion at the end of the 2024 campaign. 
Acquiring Adams was one of many moves the Jets made aimed at providing Rodgers with former Packers teammates; one of the others was the free agent addition of Allen Lazard. That four-year, $44MM investment did not pay of as expected, and the decision to release Rodgers could very well see Lazard cut as well. ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes Lazard (along with Adams) will “probably” be released in the near future.
Such a move from the new regime of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn would not come as a surprise. Lazard came to New York with high expectations after his final Packers campaign saw him post career-highs in receptions (60) and yards (788). In 2023, though, the 29-year-old’s production saw a steep decline. A full season from Rodgers this past year brought about a return to an extent of Lazard’s impact (including six receiving touchdowns), but on the whole his tenure has not gone as planned.
Lazard is owed a non-guaranteed base salary of $11MM in 2025 and ’26; releasing him before June 1 would essentially create an even split between cap savings and dead money. Taking the post-June 1 route – as the team will likely do in Rodgers’ case -would give the Jets $11MM in savings against a small dead cap charge, but those funds would not be freed up until June 2. Parting ways with Adams and Lazard would leave receiver as a position of focus this offseason, but Garrett Wilson‘s future with the organization may become less of a talking point moving forward.
The latter was connected to a potential trade request late in the season, with perceived tension with Rodgers and competition for targets from Adams seen as key reasons. With Wilson set to no longer have Rodgers as a teammate or (presumably) Adams vying for the top spot on the WR depth chart, though, Cimini notes that Wilson is likely to be more amenable to making a long-term Jets commitment. The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year is eligible for an extension for the first time this offseason, and his production given the level of quarterback play New York has had over his three-year career could put him line for a major raise.
Wilson, 24, has topped 1,000 yards in each of his Jets campaigns. He will be expected to remain a focal point of New York’s passing attack through at least 2026, since the team will no doubt exercise his $16.63MM fifth-year option this spring provided no trade request emerges over the coming weeks. A long-term accord would check in at a much higher price tag given the upward trend in the receiver market over the past few years. Questions about the Ohio State product’s willingness to remain with the Jets will no doubt linger until such a pact is worked out, but if the new decision-makers start over on offense Wilson will remain a central figure for the unit.
In this years WR market – I bet he would get at least two firsts
And move on from Adams too.
I understand keeping him, but as he hets closer to a new contract I think it is worth considering if they are more than a WR away.
Garrett Wilson’s future with the Jets is less in doubt than a guy they have no reason to keep? Shocking!
We’ll just have to wait for the next round of Madden ratings to know who the Jets are keeping and who they are cutting 🙂
Did you read Jerry signed himself to a new multi-year deal?
link to theonion.com
I worry when Jerry starts trying to be an expert on “reality” because he is medicated most of the time. Wonder what his reaction will be when he discovers this contract has void years…lol.
Not sure why he was complaining about that diva Rodgers this past year. He did after all throw Wilson the ball 101 times for his receptions
outside of one game where the team was awful against the vikings. Wilson got double digits targets (not receptions) 5 times and they were all 10 for a whole season with it most being around 5-8 and he pretty much played every snap. Adams was only there roughly half the season and had 7 double digit targets usually around 13 which is almost double the targets over wilson.
Heck, as a Packer fan I wouldn’t have signed Lazard.
Green Bay wouldn’t even have room for him, there’s already Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, & Christian Watson, so he wouldn’t even crack the top four.
I meant when the Jets first signed him. I didn’t care he left GB.
And there is no way I’d want him now.
Cimini – breaking obvious news and insights.
I don’t know. A twenty nine year old 6’5″ big bodied who is already on the roster on a stable contract with a mid-sixties catch ratio doesn’t sound like a bad asset. It’s not like the NYJ have to give up trade assets or will get trade assets for cutting Lazard.