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4 Aaron Rodgers destinations after the Jets let him go

tyler nettuno
·3-min read
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 05: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets in action against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on January 05, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 05: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets in action against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on January 05, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Expectations were high for the New York Jets entering the 2024 season as Aaron Rodgers returned from a torn Achilles that cost him essentially the entire 2023 campaign. But despite a fairly productive season in which he tossed 28 touchdowns to 11 interceptions with a 90.5 rating, the Jets are ready to move on from the 41-year-old.

According to FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer, Rodgers flew to New Jersey to meet with Jets management about his future and was told the team plans to proceed without him.

However, Rodgers has not indicated that he plans to retire, and the four-time NFL MVP could become a free agent this offseason. While Rodgers' best years are behind him, he's still a starting-caliber quarterback and a handful of teams could look to take a chance on him in 2025.

Here are four potential landing spots for the future Hall of Famer.

New York Giants

Jan 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) passes the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Jan 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) passes the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Could Rodgers ultimately stay in the Big Apple? The New York Giants need a quarterback after moving on from Daniel Jones last season, and they currently hold the third overall pick. They sit behind a pair of quarterback-needy teams in the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns, meaning both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders could be off the board by the time they're on the clock.

Rodgers wouldn't be a long-term solution, but given New York's quarterback need and a relatively weak draft class of signal-callers, he might be just the stopgap the Giants need for 2025.

Las Vegas Raiders

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 05: Aidan O'Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before their game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chargers defeated the Raiders 34-20. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 05: Aidan O'Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before their game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chargers defeated the Raiders 34-20. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

The Raiders, who hold the sixth pick in the draft, find themselves in a similar situation to the Giants. Quarterback is a clear need for Las Vegas after neither Gardner Minshew II nor Aidan O'Connell looked like the answer for the future in 2024, and adding someone in the draft may not be an option.

New head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek need to figure something out for 2025, and Rodgers could raise the offensive floor quite a bit if he wants to head to Vegas.

Pittsburgh Steelers

BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 11: Russell Wilson #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts a pass as Odafe Oweh #99 of the Baltimore Ravens defends during the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 11: Russell Wilson #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts a pass as Odafe Oweh #99 of the Baltimore Ravens defends during the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh turned in another winning season and reached the playoffs in 2024 with the tag-team duo of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but neither is under contract heading into 2025. The Steelers are likely set to move on to yet another starting quarterback, and with a draft selection in the 20s, this may not be the year to pick a franchise signal-caller.

After having moderate success with a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in the twilight of his career, could Pittsburgh look to do the same again in 2025 with Rodgers?

Cleveland Browns

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 04: Jameis Winston #5 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 04, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 04: Jameis Winston #5 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 04, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

The blockbuster move to acquire Deshaun Watson has proved to be disastrous for Cleveland between his poor play and recurring injuries. Jameis Winston started for most of the 2024 season, in which the Browns went 3-14 and now hold the second overall pick.

They're widely projected to take a quarterback in that spot, but with another team who needs a quarterback picking first, could Cleveland prefer to punt on a quarterback and take a player like Travis Hunter rather than land its second choice?

It's unclear if Rodgers would even want to play in Cleveland, but if there's a mutual interest, that could be enough to convince the Browns to add a non-quarterback piece at pick No. 2 and try their luck with him instead.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 4 Aaron Rodgers destinations after the Jets let him go