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Rich Cimini, ESPN writer
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets:
1. No discount, please double check: Another Aaron Rodgers season would mean far-reaching salary cap implications for the incoming regime, a major factor in the decision to retain the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
Rodgers is signed for 2025 (he has four years without effect, until 2029), but there is no guaranteed money left in his contract. That will help mitigate salary cap ramifications when he’s gone, but the damage will still be significant.
Let’s examine the financial pros and cons of another year.
If Rodgers does not play for the Jets in 2025, is released or retires, the Jets will have a “dead” charge of $49 million, which is an accumulation of prorated bonuses from previous years. That’s a substantial hit to the salary cap, more than doubling his charge if he’s on the roster ($23.5 million).
The $49 million can be spread over two years with a post-June 1 cut: $14 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026. For long-term planning purposes, it might make sense to absorb the full impact next year. year, creating flexibility regarding caps for the future.
Now let’s say Rodgers returns in 2025. While the cap charge ($23.5 million) would be manageable, they would have to pay him a $35 million option bonus for the first game of the regular season, in addition to a $2.5 million base salary.
Now, the downside. If he returns for one year, the dead charge will skyrocket to $63 million in 2026. The reason for the increase is the option bonus, which would be prorated for cap purposes over the life of the contract (the void years) and then accelerate until 2026 after his departure.
Again, they could use the June 1 designation, but then we’re talking about doling out money through 2027: $21 million in 2026 and $42 million in 2027. Does a new regime really want to foot the Rodgers bill through 2027?
They could renegotiate the $35 million option bonus if they want to keep him, but that would just put more money on the back end of the deal, which isn’t ideal. What about a direct pay cut? Rodgers took a voluntary $34 million pay cut last year, so it seems unlikely he’ll want to give more money back.
Rodgers’ future will be a topic of conversation for the next few months. He said he is undecided whether he will play next year. If he does, the Jets are his number one option.
“I’m open to everything and not attached to anything,” Rodgers said.
Maybe so, but that huge cap hit is tied to him.
2. Let the searches begin: Owner Woody Johnson’s decision to hire an outside firm led by someone he fired 12 years ago, former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum, was met with predictable skepticism. It’s strange optics, to be sure, but there is merit to the way the Jets are approaching their general manager and head coaching searches — in theory, at least.
Clearly, Johnson, despite 25 years as an owner, is not comfortable conducting his own searches. Tannenbaum and his partner on this project, former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, are two front-office veterans working together at The 33rd Team, a media and technology company that will provide research and help identify candidates.
Spielman, speaking on an NFL podcast on CBS, offered some insight into the process. He said he’s already interviewed “a lot of the guys” who will end up being on his list of recommendations for the Jets. He met them through the NFL Coaching Accelerator Program (designed to drive inclusion) and through his previous work as a consultant. In addition to helping Washington commanders last year in their searches, he “interviewed” potential candidates who coveted his input.
“I’m just a cornerback scout,” Spielman said of his Jets’ assignment. “I’ll give my opinion. I’ll help with interviews. I’ll talk to a lot of sources, gather a lot of information and give it” to the Jets.
Johnson used a similar approach in 2015, hiring former general managers Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf as consultants. Casserly had considerable influence in the process and they ended up hiring two people with ties to him: coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan.
The final result? Four seasons, no playoff appearance.
The line between information gatherer and influencer can become blurred, especially since Johnson has been known to let outside voices affect his thinking. In this case, the Jets say Tannenbaum/Spielman will have a “supporting role,” not consulting positions.
Ultimately, Johnson will make the final decisions, according to the Jets. Of course, you will choose from the candidates recommended by Tannenbaum/Spielman.
3. Captain Fantastic: Rodgers will have no involvement in the selection process and does not appear to be seeking a place at the table. “I’m always available if you want my opinion, but now I’m going to focus on playing,” he said. “If I’m drawn to those conversations, that’s great. If I’m not, that’s great, too.”
4. Year of the red shirt: Quarterback Jordan Travis remains the mystery man of the 2024 draft class. That horrible college ankle injury remains an issue, as he has suffered “some setbacks” and is “still struggling with some things,” said interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.
The former Florida State star, a fifth-round pick, became ineligible to practice and play this season when he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list in August. The hope was that I could do some additional work, but that has been limited. It has become a year of classroom learning.
When they drafted him, the Jets thought he would be ready this season.
5. Reddick tries to recover: Running back Haason Reddick cost millions with his long endurance. Now it’s costing you more money with its slow start. His revised one-year contract includes a sack incentive, but he needs eight sacks to reach a $500,000 bonus. Reddick has just 0.5 sacks in four games, so it may be difficult to get 7.5 in the last six games.
He’s on pace to reach a 40% playing time incentive: a $791,628 bonus. That, along with his base salary, will bring his compensation in 2024 to $9.5 million. He was scheduled to earn $14.5 million before the suspension. Taking into account fines and lost wages, Reddick will likely end up losing at least $7 million due to resistance.
Ulbrich praised Reddick, saying “his effort is off the mark.” His presence has allowed the Jets to attack less frequently, but their pass rush production has not improved with him.
In seven games without Reddick, his sack rate and pressure percentage were 9.3% and 39.2%, respectively. In four games with him, it’s 9.4% and 36.0%, according to Next Gen Stats.
6. Record the script: Neither the Jets nor the Seattle Seahawks are likely to score a touchdown Sunday on their first series when the two meet. After all, they are among seven teams that have not made it.
This is a major problem for the Jets, who are averaging an NFL-worst 15.5 yards on their first drive, according to ESPN Research. Over the past five seasons, the only teams with worse ratings are the 2023 Jets (14.7) and the 2021 Titans (15.4).
7. Leo is back: One of former general manager Joe Douglas’ first big moves was trading defensive tackle Leonard Williams and his expiring contract to the New York Giants at the 2019 trade deadline. The move made sense because the Jets were headed into a rebuild. total. They received two draft picks, a 2020 third-rounder (safety Ashtyn Davis) and a 2021 fifth-rounder (nickel back Michael Carter II).
Meanwhile, Williams, 30, enjoyed a good run with the Giants and is now thriving with the Seahawks. He’s done quite well: $130 million in career earnings, according to Spotrac.
8. Geno is back: This won’t be former 2013 No. 2 pick Geno Smith’s first start against the Jets (he beat them in 2022 in Seattle), but it will be his first against them at MetLife Stadium, his former home. It’s been nine years since that infamous locker room fight, when Smith was punched in the face by former teammate IK Enemkpali. Time flies.
9. Day without fun: Sunday has not been kind to the Jets: a 1-6 record. The bright side is that four of the losses were by six points or less.
10. The last word: “I’ve never seen anyone get fired, so I’m new to this, especially when it comes to some people who have put millions of dollars in my pocket for me to change my life and my family’s life.” — Cornerback Sauce Gardner on the firings of Douglas and coach Robert Saleh.
