Is Jets' Aaron Rodgers Trade The Worst In Franchise History?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Feb 15, 2025 1:35 PM ET

The Aaron Rodgers experiment is over for the New York Jets after just two seasons, with the franchise cutting ties with the four-time MVP winner, in which he is expected to be cut.

His Achilles injury hampered Rodgers' time in New York, and many are left wondering how different his time in the Big Apple would have been had he had two full seasons to work.

But alas, that isn't how the football gods deemed it to work, and Rodgers only got one full season in New York...and it wasn't good.

As such, ESPN's Rich Cimini thinks that the trade to bring Rodgers to the Jets could be seen as one of the worst in franchise history.

"The trade for Rodgers in April 2023 will be remembered as one of the most disappointing moves in franchise history," Cimini writes. "His first season ended quickly, as he tore his left Achilles on the fourth snap of his first game in New York. He started every game in 2024, but the Jets, who began the year with Super Bowl aspirations, were a nonfactor most of the season."

Rich calls it "most disappointing.''

Can't we just go with "worst''?

Thought of as the missing piece in the Jets' Super Bowl puzzle, it turned out that it was a drama show from the get-go with Rodgers' offseason trip to Egypt as he missed parts of the offseason, coupled with his on-field play that simply wasn't at the standard many had hoped.

Rodgers' 2024 stats don't "look" bad, posting 3,897 yards (ranked 8th) and 28 touchdowns (ranked 7th), but for most, that is misleading, with the Jets posting a 5-12 record.

The new regime of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey has cleaned house with Rodgers, and while there was hope that he could bring success to the franchise, in two years, he never got close.

Partly due to his injury and partly due to his and the team's play on the field.

Is it the worst trade in franchise history? It very well could be.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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