Aaron Rodgers’ time with the New York Jets came to an abrupt end when the team announced they were moving on from the veteran quarterback. Rodgers’ first season was reduced to just four snaps because of a season-ending injury, and when the Jets finished 5-12 in 2024, they asked the quarterback to pack his bags.
While Rodgers may not have contributed to New York’s success, his leadership has surely left a mark in the locker room, evidenced by young quarterback Jordan Travis recently coming to his defense amid online scrutiny.
Jordan Travis Defends Aaron Rodgers as a Great Person
Jordan was selected with the No. 171 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Jets but missed the entire rookie campaign with a brutal fracture and dislocated ankle he had suffered in his final season at Florida State. He had racked up an impressive 5,970 passing yards for 44 touchdowns and seven interceptions, alongside 14 rushing touchdowns in 24 games before the injury.
The 24-year-old defended Rodgers after a TMZ video went viral on social media where the future Hall of Famer was caught awkwardly saying that the only thing he wanted was for a team to sign him and surround him with good talent.
“I’m just enjoying the sunshine right now,” he said when asked what he wanted in his new team. “If they want you … if they got a good team.”
Travis called the narrative around Rodgers crazy and defended the four-time MVP as a great person.
“8 is a great person. The narrative is crazy.”
8 is a great person. The narrative is crazy https://t.co/by2axFQC2Z
— Jordan Travis (@jordantrav13) February 23, 2025
While Travis’ NFL future is uncertain, it isn’t the first time Rodgers has commanded respect from younger teammates. Having mentored talents like Jordan Love and Tim Boyle in Green Bay, and Travis and Adrian Martinez in New York, he could leave a mark on one more organization.
3 Possible Destinations for Aaron Rodgers
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders did not hire Pete Carroll for a long rebuild. At 73 years old, Carroll is unlikely to be there for the long haul, which means the Raiders need to take a step to challenge sooner rather than later.
Picking sixth in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders are unlikely to see either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders fall to them. A trade to get either would be expensive, and there’s no guarantee it would be any more successful than a gamble on Rodgers.
Aidan O’Connell is under contract for 2025, and while he ended the season with a better QB+ than Rodgers, it was by 1.6 points and one spot in the rankings. Despite the recent struggles, Rodgers’ ceiling is higher.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans are likely to move on from Will Levis, who was a negative-play machine in his second season. Most have assumed that the Titans will use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on their preferred quarterback, but blue-chip defenders make that difficult.
Rodgers is affordable and could allow Tennessee not to reach in a below-average quarterback class. The Titans need help all over the roster after ranking 27th in Offense+ and 22nd in Defense+. A true game-changer like Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter could enable them to contend faster than expected after spending a significant amount on a veteran defense in 2024.
New York Giants
Could Rodgers continue to play his home games at MetLife Stadium? The Giants have a well-known quarterback hole but pick third in the upcoming NFL Draft. If Ward and Sanders go off the board to the Titans and Cleveland Browns, the Giants could be left without a good quarterback option.
However, Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen could be incentivized to take a swing on a veteran quarterback instead of waiting for a rookie to develop. Owner John Mara’s comments after the season made it clear that both Daboll and Schoen are on thin ice, which means they could opt for a win-now option in hopes of earning another season.
Rodgers would have more upside than just about any veteran quarterback option in free agency, except Sam Darnold (who also had a rough Jets stint). New York ranked 31st in Offense+, ahead of only Cleveland, and will likely seek to add win-now talent to improve that side of the ball.
