Jets Wide Receiver, Favorite Aaron Rodgers Target Could Be Cut

The influence that Aaron Rodgers has over the New York Jets is evident. They made several moves to accommodate him, signing some of his former friends and teammates and hiring coaches he is familiar with.

Most of those moves have yielded no positive results for the Jets. Year 1 of the Aaron Rodgers experiment was a disaster as he was injured on his fourth play from scrimmage.

Heading into 2024, expectations are still high for the team. New York has the look of a Super Bowl contender if Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy and regain his previous form.

Alas, it could be without some of those players he brought along with him in 2023. One of the players on the chopping block, in the opinion of Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report, is wide receiver Allen Lazard.

Lazard signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the Jets as a free agent in 2023. To say he was a bust in Year 1 would be putting it mildly.

In 14 games, he caught only 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown. The absence of Aaron Rodgers certainly played a role in the lack of production, but he was one of the least efficient wide receivers in the NFL last season.

In four out of the last five games he played in, Lazard failed to record a reception. Part of that was the level of play the Jets were receiving from their quarterbacks. But, he has some work to do to avoid getting released this offseason.

“Lazard could turn things around with his long-time quarterback returning to the field. That is probably what the Jets are banking on.

However, you could make an argument the Jets do not need Lazard if he underwhelms in preseason.

Wilson, Williams and Corley are likely the top three wide outs, and if Gipson and Brownlee show enough promise, a roster squeeze out could happen for Lazard,” Tansey wrote.

Based on production, Lazard is certainly a legitimate cut candidate. But, given his relationship with Aaron Rodgers and his contract, he will likely remain on the roster.

The Jets wouldn’t save any money releasing Lazard right now, but he would carry a dead cap hit of $12,184,000. Unless he turns things around drastically, being released in 2025 seems like a foregone conclusion.

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