Rodgers’ Potential Departure from Jets Sparks Raiders’ Interest
The New York Jets are reportedly planning to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the 2025 NFL season, marking a potentially premature end to a partnership that began with Super Bowl aspirations. The Jets’ decision, stemming from what is described as a disappointing two-year collaboration, has ignited speculation across the league regarding Rodgers’ next destination.
While the Jets are currently weighing their options, considering both an outright release and a potential trade, one team has already emerged as a vocal suitor: the Las Vegas Raiders. Raiders’ star defensive end Maxx Crosby has publicly expressed his desire to see Rodgers don the silver and black, viewing the four-time NFL MVP as a significant upgrade to their quarterback situation.
Crosby’s enthusiasm stems from his belief that Rodgers, despite the perceived struggles during his time with the Jets, still possesses the talent and drive to lead a team to success. He highlighted Rodgers’ resilience and ability to improve throughout the 2024 season, suggesting that the challenges he faced were largely attributable to his recovery from a severe Achilles injury.
"I think with all the doubt and all the negativity around Aaron Rodgers … I think he’s going to have a big year," Crosby said on "The Rush Podcast." His words reflect a confidence in Rodgers’ ability to silence his critics and return to his elite form. More pointedly, Crosby added, "I hope it’s in our town," making his desire for Rodgers to join the Raiders abundantly clear.
Crosby further emphasized the allure of playing alongside Rodgers, describing the potential pairing as "legendary." He projected optimism for Rodgers’ performance in 2025, even at the age of 42, attributing his anticipated resurgence to being further removed from the Achilles injury.
The Achilles injury, suffered during the 2023 season opener, cast a long shadow over Rodgers’ time with the Jets. Crosby astutely observed the difficulty of recovering from such a significant injury, drawing parallels to other quarterbacks who have faced similar challenges. "The first year off an Achilles [injury] is one of the hardest things to do," he explained.
Crosby pointed to Kirk Cousins, quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, as an example of a player who experienced a decline in performance following an Achilles tear. While he acknowledged that Rodgers "struggled early on," he also noted that Rodgers exhibited improvement as the 2024 season progressed, bolstering his argument that Rodgers’ best football is still ahead of him.
To illustrate Rodgers’ performance trajectory, the article provided a statistical breakdown of his 2024 season. In his first seven games, Rodgers completed 61.7% of his passes for 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He averaged 238 passing yards per game, but his passer rating of 82.2 was noticeably below the league average of 92.3.
However, Rodgers demonstrated a clear upward trend in his final 10 games. Although his passing yards per game decreased slightly to 223, his efficiency improved significantly. He completed 64% of his passes with 18 touchdowns and only four interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 97.0, a substantial jump from his earlier performance.
The Raiders’ quarterback situation in 2024, characterized by inconsistency and a lack of established talent, further fuels the speculation surrounding their interest in Rodgers. The Raiders utilized three different starting quarterbacks throughout the season: Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder.
Collectively, these quarterbacks completed 64.5% of their passes for 3,763 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Their combined passer rating of 80.02 falls significantly short of Rodgers’ improved rating in the latter part of the 2024 season, highlighting the potential upgrade that Rodgers could provide.
The disparity in performance between Rodgers and the Raiders’ quarterbacks underscores the Raiders’ need for a reliable and experienced signal-caller. While Minshew, O’Connell, and Ridder each had moments of promise, none of them consistently demonstrated the ability to elevate the Raiders’ offense to the next level.
The potential acquisition of Rodgers would not only address the Raiders’ quarterback deficiency but also inject a sense of excitement and optimism into the franchise. Rodgers’ proven track record of success, his leadership qualities, and his ability to make game-changing plays would undoubtedly galvanize the team and its fanbase.
However, several factors could complicate the Raiders’ pursuit of Rodgers. First, the Jets’ decision regarding Rodgers’ future remains uncertain. They could choose to retain him for the 2025 season or explore trade options with other teams.
Second, Rodgers’ health and performance in 2025 will play a crucial role in determining his market value. If he continues to show improvement and demonstrates that he has fully recovered from his Achilles injury, his demand will likely increase.
Third, the Raiders will need to consider the financial implications of acquiring Rodgers. His contract is likely to be substantial, and the Raiders will need to carefully evaluate their salary cap situation to ensure that they can afford to bring him on board while also maintaining a competitive roster.
Despite these potential challenges, the Raiders’ interest in Rodgers is undeniable. Maxx Crosby’s public endorsement of Rodgers and the Raiders’ clear need for a quarterback upgrade suggest that they will be a serious contender for his services if he becomes available. The prospect of Rodgers leading the Raiders’ offense is undoubtedly an intriguing one, and it remains to be seen whether this potential pairing will ultimately materialize. The coming months will be crucial in shaping the future of both Aaron Rodgers and the Las Vegas Raiders. The NFL world watches with anticipation.
