New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jets face huge dead cap hits down the road for Aaron Rodgers

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated 7/30/23

Aaron Rodgers has brought a great deal of excitement to the New York Jets fan base. Indeed, both the fans and Rodgers appear to be rejuvenated by their unlikely union. However, as Green Bay Packers fans know all too well, having Rodgers on one’s team comes at a price.

And no, we’re not talking about the figurative price of having a player like Rodgers — we’re talking about the literal tens of millions of dollars price. Rodgers and the Jets recently agreed upon a two-year $75 million contract, saving the team over $35 million over the next two years.

But Jets fans are finding out one thing Packers fans have known for a while now: The bill always comes due, and it’s never as affordable as it first appears.

Jets and Rodgers Have a Two-Year Window Before Salary Cap Purgatory

On the surface, Rodgers’ contract seems like a great deal for the Jets. However, as was the case in Green Bay, the numbers only become worse as time goes on.

This season, Rodgers has a lowly $8.8 million cap hit. However, that cap hit jumps to $17.1 million in 2024 and $51.5 million in 2025. The dead cap numbers do not provide much wiggle room either, as Jets fans are starting to realize:

#TakeFlight current (what seems likely) Aaron Rodgers contract scenarios:
A) Retires after 2024, leaves a $49 million dead cap the first year the 2022 class can be extended

B) Plays in 2025, and leaves a $61 million dead cap hit in 2026

— Michael Pallas (@jubgpodcast) July 30, 2023

The dead cap hit of $49 million in 2025 is just a $2.5 million difference from his actual cap hit. That when it’s time for players like Garrett Wilson to start getting extensions.

The Jets, like the Packers, are going to have make some difficult decisions when it comes to their roster construction. Players they otherwise might have been able to afford may become cap casualties.

In short, the Jets have a short window to win before their salary cap becomes incredibly difficult to manage.

This is the price of Rodgers.

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

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