Jets must avoid giving 'boss' Aaron Rodgers unchecked power

Aaron Rodgers was handed the keys to the New York Jets the moment he stepped foot in the Big Apple. If New York isn't careful, he could steer the franchise into the ground.

After yet another losing season and addition to the longest active playoff drought in North American sports (now 13 years), Jets owner Woody Johnson appears content with keeping the same team leadership in place for 2024. The reasoning is simple: Rodgers has given it the seal of approval. 

During his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, Rodgers reaffirmed his belief in Jets head coach Robert Saleh, GM Joe Douglas and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. The 40-year-old called his head coach "fantastic," praised his general manager for having "great drafts" and described his offensive coordinator's system as "quarterback-friendly."

The unwavering support from Rodgers is surely a sigh of relief for the aforementioned trio, who collectively find themselves on the hot seat. Since joining the Jets, Douglas has a 22-55 record as GM, and Saleh is 16-32 as HC. Hackett's offense, meanwhile, ranks last in the NFL this season in yards per game (255.1), first downs per game (14.6) and red-zone scoring percentage (34.48).

Rodgers' opinion carries a lot of weight in the organization. To make the four-time MVP's transition from Green Bay to New York as seamless as possible, Gang Green brought in several of his close friends from the Packers, including Hackett, wide receivers Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard, and tackle Billy Turner. The Jets additionally signed free agents Rodgers expressed interest in playing with, namely running back Dalvin Cook. 

Yet in Rodgers' absence, none of the offseason moves he encouraged has panned out. Cobb and Lazard have combined for 27 catches for 346 yards and two touchdown catches this season. Cook has 67 carries for 214 yards and no scores.

As Douglas and Saleh begin to look toward the offseason with the Jets (5-9) already eliminated from the playoffs, they must be wary of giving Rodgers unchecked power in free agency and draft decision-making. Adhering to everything the quarterback wants is clearly not a recipe for success. 

The Jets have already expressed interest in acquiring one of Rodgers' favorite teammates when they tried to get Las Vegas Raiders star wideout Davante Adams at the trade deadline and are expected to pursue him this offseason, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. New York may also target Packers running back AJ Dillon, offensive lineman Jon Runyan, offensive tackle David Bakhtiari and Bears tight end Robert Tonyan, a former Packer, via free agency or trade due to their connections with Rodgers.

It wouldn't be wise, however, for the Jets to acquire and subsequently overpay these players solely to appease Rodgers. New York made Lazard the No. 24 highest-paid receiver per year in the NFL with a four-year, $44 million contract, a deal it certainly regrets agreeing to this past offseason.

With a top-10 pick all but guaranteed in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Jets also shouldn't feel obliged to pass on a quarterback prospect they like for fear the pick would anger Rodgers. He voiced his displeasure when the Packers drafted Jordan Love in 2020 and would likely want New York to use its first-round pick on a player who'd make an impact next season, but given his age and coming off a major injury, it'd be shortsighted to pass on a QB if the right one was available.

Rodgers has already confirmed he will happily assume the role of a “recruiter” for free agents and trade targets. After seemingly saving several people's jobs and orchestrating prior offseason acquisitions, his title might as well be "boss." The Jets shouldn't hand him that title, too.