Four realistic options for replacing Aaron Rodgers with the New York Jets

Bringing Aaron Rodgers Becoming the starting quarterback was supposed to be a coup for the team. New York Jets and push them back to quarrel.

Until now, everything has been completely different.

The franchise fired its general manager Joe DouglasOwner Woody Johnson made it clear earlier this week that he doesn’t want Rodgers on the roster after this season.

What realistic options do the Jets have to fill their starting quarterback hole if the future Hall of Fame heading out to pack for the upcoming off-season? Here are four routes a team could take: one internally, one through the draft, one through a trade and one through free agency.

Ahead of 2024, New York signed veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor to serve as Rodgers’ backup, and he did just that.

Taylor has only played one game this year (so far), but he looked good in a small sample size, throwing for 36 yards with one touchdown on 6-of-8 passing and adding seven yards on one attempt.

The veteran is already under contract through 2025, so this wouldn’t hurt the Jets’ cap space or require the team to trade any draft picks or young stars.

Taylor’s downside is his age. While he’s not 40 years old like Rodgers, he’s not far behind as he’s 35 and will turn 36 before the 2025 campaign.

The older Taylor gets, the less effective his legs will be and he will have to rely more on his arm. This isn’t a worst case scenario as he has been an effective passer in the past. But the last time he was a full-time starter was seven years ago, when he played for the Buffalo Bills.

Before the angry emails come saying, “Why not Shadower Sanders/Jalen Milroe/Carson Beck?” take a look back at the recent crop of first round NFL draft quarterbacks and let me know how many of them have made it in the NFL?

The Jets currently have the seventh overall pick in the first round and should pursue a more proven skill position player like wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan or running back Ashton Ginty.

Mid- and late-round quarterbacks have a much higher success rate in the NFL (looking at Tom Brady and Drew Brees), and Texas Longhorns signal-caller Quinn Evers has a much better skill set for the pros than any of his contemporaries projected in the first round.

Taking Evers in the third round would allow the team to better build their first- and second-round picks around him, giving the rookie a real chance to succeed.

A trade may be the least likely scenario for acquiring a quarterback, although it is not completely ruled out.

The most likely scenario would be to trade one bad contract for another, sending Rodgers to Jacksonville Jaguars for former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence didn’t live up to the hype during his time with the Jaguars and could use a change of scenery to get back to what he could do in college.

Rodgers is projected to hit a cap hit of $23.5 million in 2025, while Lawrence is projected to hit a cap hit of $17 million.

Lawrence, however, is under contract until at least 2028 with an opt-out option until 2029, but the contract will run until 2030 unless he exercises his opt-out option.

That would be a risk for both sides, but with Rodgers’ deal going through after 2025, Jacksonville might be willing to take that risk, if only for the potential boost in ticket sales.

That spot was originally supposed to be Sam Darnold, but it’s unlikely he’ll want to return after everything he’s been through during his time in New York.

Andy Dalton is a proven veteran who has shown he can be a field general and lead a team to success, something the Jets could desperately use.

Signing Dalton as a free agent wouldn’t be much of an accomplishment, as New York is currently projected to have $31 million available per Spotrac, giving them the opportunity to bring in more help through free agency.

They will also be able to use all of their picks in the upcoming draft to build around Dalton McMillan or Jinty, as well as other weapons Dalton could use.

Veteran quarterbacks haven’t fared well for the Jets as of late (looking at you, Rodgers), but Dalton is much more level-headed and a much better leader and team-oriented player than the incumbent.

There are options available for New York this offseason. The only question is whether they will use them to their maximum potential.