Allen Lazard shares hilarious takes on joining Jets with Aaron Rodgers

Wide receiver Allen Lazard acknowledged both he and quarterback Aaron Rodgers encountered new experiences after joining the New York Jets from the Green Bay Packers this offseason. 

"The biggest positive? Playing with Aaron Rodgers," Lazard said Thursday about making the move from Green Bay to New Jersey, according to Joey Chandler of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "The comfortability of not having to learn a new offense, and develop chemistry with a new quarterback. The negative? Taxes." 

Needless to say, the Garden State is slightly more expensive than Lazard's previous place of employment. 

It was reported in March that Lazard was one player on a "wish list" of potential free-agent targets submitted by Rodgers to the Jets, and Gang Green ultimately signed the 27-year-old receiver to a four-year contract reportedly worth up to $44M with $22M guaranteed. However, March came and went without the Jets landing Rodgers, and Lazard admitted he temporarily felt nervous about the two clubs completing what became a highly-anticipated trade. 

"There was like an eight-hour period of time where I was like, what the f---, bro? And, he was like, it is going to happen and I was like, alright," Lazard said about a conversation he had with Rodgers. 

In the end, the trade between the Jets and Packers became official on April 26. 

Lazard served as Rodgers' favorite target during their final campaign together in Green Bay. Per ESPN stats, Lazard finished the 2022 regular season leading all Packers players with 60 catches, 100 targets and 788 receiving yards. He was second on the team with six touchdown grabs. 

"Not to say that him coming here was the only reason I came here or me coming here is the only reason why he didn’t want to retire or stay in Green Bay, per se, but I knew he was doing everything he could do," Lazard added about the only full-time QB1 he's known throughout his career. 

Like Rodgers, Lazard had current New York offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as his OC with the Packers from 2019 through the 2021 season. While Lazard said the Jets are running "the Aaron Rodgers offense," Hackett is expected to handle offensive play-calling duties for the club this fall. 

All involved will hope paying more in taxes will be worth hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy as soon as February 2024.