Even before the New York Jets acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers last offseason, they signed some of his former Green Bay Packers teammates and hired one of his favorite NFL coaches to help recruit him. With Rodgers returning in 2024, it seems he wants New York to do even more.
Rodgers’ hand-picked additions to the Jets’ coaching staff and roster didn’t work out this year. Tim Boyle, a former Packers teammate and one of Rodgers’ friends, was cut after a failed stint as the starting quarterback.
Allen Lazard, who signed a four-year, $44 million contract, has been a healthy scratch and veteran wide receiver Randall Cobb is 10th on the team in receiving yards (35) across nine games played. Meanwhile, Hackett’s play-calling has led to one of the NFL’s worst offenses and running back Dalvin Cook (3.2 ypc) has been ineffective.
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However, Rodgers’ influence over the Jets’ organization isn’t changing next year. Coming off a torn Achilles and entering his age-40 season, the four-time NFL MVP already got what he wanted with the coaching staff. Now, he has a new wishlist of players for the Jets to target this upcoming offseason.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Rodgers’ “watch list” of Jets’ targets for the Jets includes Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams along with Packers’ running back Aaron Jones and left tackle David Bakhtiari.
The likelihood of New York acquiring those players varies. Las Vegas has shown zero interest in trading Adams, rejecting the Jets’ inquiries ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline. Furthermore, Adams has given no indication that he wants to be traded in 2024 nor that he wants to be reunited with Rodgers.
Jones could be available for New York. While the Pro Bowl running back is highly effective when healthy, he carries a $17.7 million cap hit in 2024. Green Bay can find cheaper alternatives in the NFL Draft, making it very likely that the Packers designate Jones as a post-June 1 release to create $12 million in 2024 cap savings. However, his fit in a backfield that already features Breece Hall is questionable.
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Bakhtiari would be an ideal target for New York, however. When healthy, he’s one of the best left tackles in the NFL and would provide a monumental upgrade to the Jets’ offensive line in pass protection. Considering the Packers would create $21.4 million in cap savings by releasing him this spring, a reunion with Rodgers in New York seems inevitable.