Aaron Rodgers has a specific list of players he wants with the New York Jets
So… that’s been the holdup.
According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, Aaron Rodgers provided the New York Jets with a list of four free agent players he would like the team to target and acquire: Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Marcedes Lewis, and… Odell Beckham.
Aaron Rodgers has provided the NY Jets with a wish-list of free agents he would like them to target and acquire, per sources.
It includes Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Marcedes Lewis and….Odell Beckham Jr.— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 14, 2023
The news of the Jets’ interest in Lazard surfaced this morning, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Later on Tuesday, Schefter added that New York is also interested in Cobb and Lewis.
Russini’s report is the cherry on top, adding Beckham to the list.
Beckham recently worked out in front of NFL teams in Arizona, which reportedly went very well and impressed teams. The Jets were one of the teams in attendance to watch. Many fans assumed this was no more than due diligence, but it seems to be much more than that.
Perhaps this is what has been holding up the entire Rodgers saga. If the Jets need to sign four other players to placate Rodgers and convince him to join the team, that would surely take them some time.
Beckham did not play in the 2022 season as he recovered from a torn ACL suffered in the Rams’ Super Bowl 56 victory. It was a bittersweet ending to a great playoff run from Beckham. Over the Rams’ four-game playoff run, Beckham caught 21 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns (5.3 catches for 72.0 yards per game).
It’s unclear whether Rodgers views these four players as mandatory for the Jets to acquire. Is Rodgers saying he wouldn’t play for the Jets unless they got all four players? Or is Rodgers content with the Jets getting as many of these players as they can?
This is a wild twist to the Jets’ drawn-out Rodgers saga. It seems Rodgers is attempting to build his own custom superteam in Florham Park.
I’ve had enough of this prick already. If we pivoted to almost anybody I’d be happy. Fully guaranteed Lamar even. JD must have to suppress the urge to cave Woody’s face in every time he opens his mouth. Let CJ take control like he did when Woody was in London. This whole thing gives me Tebow vibes.
We finally get a top of the league GM and his off-season is being dictated by a players who isn’t on the team….yet??
Woody should have stayed away. I have no issue with any of these players buy its just a bad look for a guy who deserves a lot more respect.
Well said Peter.
There is going to be a very large bill that will come due in 2025 and 2026. The next two years better be worth it.
I am trying very hard not to dislike Aaron Rodgers but he is so insecure and so much like Adam Gase it is very hard to root for this attention seeking narcissist.
There is a 26 yo QB on the open market, with 24 career starts, 44 TDs and 15 Ints, for a 93.1 QBR (for what that’s worth). Why is Gardner Minshew not getting more love? Are the stats somehow a mirage?
Interested in what you think about this list, Nania. And other commenters as well. Lazard seems like a decent replacement for CD and adds his redzone threat-ness and also allegedly is a great run blocker. So, depending on the deal, not a bad player. The concern to me is the jets basically have their balls totally in a vice here and they could end up doing bad in these deals that are under this rodgers wishlist umbrella. Hopefully rodgers will do with only 1 from his list, ive no interest in the others, tbh. Really intriguing stuff though… what if rodgers is linking his contract demand with this fa list? Maybe you sign 2 and he takes less? That seems doubtful and wishful, and naive actually.. man, rodgers is so holding this organization and fanbase hostage and hes not even on the team yet, hah.. this is insanity. Keep your heads together people!
I’d assume Lazard coming in would mean Davis leaving, probably in the Rodgers trade. And I agree, if it’s the right price, I like Lazard for the Jets. He was efficient as a complementary weapon from 2019-21. He wasn’t fit to be their top guy in 2022 but he wouldn’t have to be that in NY. He gives them size and a red-zone threat, which they lacked at WR. He also has good chemistry with Rodgers on go balls. His blocking is great and would fit right into the scheme, and also cover up what’s lost with Davis leaving.
I’m not super interested in Cobb but if Rodgers wants him on the team, so be it. I think he’d be fine as the 4th WR, filling Berrios’ shoes. He still offers you a low drop rate and pretty good route running out of the slot.
Lewis, I really don’t know what they’d do with him. They already have 2 TEs making good money and Ruckert deserves a chance to earn more snaps this year. Lewis seems to still be a solid blocker but this position is just too logjammed for me to understand what his role would be.
OBJ is tough. Obviously, there’s a lot of talent there, but it’s been so long since he was elite. He’s dealt with multiple serious injuries and seen his production dip. That 2021-22 playoff run was definitely impressive, and he apparently looked good at his recent workout (for whatever that’s worth), but I think OBJ is far more sparkle than substance at this point. Plus the Jets have a cheap young player who is healthy and has untapped potential with Moore. I’d probably rather see the Jets pass on OBJ. Hopefully, as you said, Rodgers is fine with not getting the entire wishlist, and he’ll understand why he wouldn’t be great for the Jets.
Part of the appeal of Rodgers coming here was supposed to be that the Jets already have weapons in place for him – weapons that would be an upgrade over a unit that seemingly held him back in 2022. I don’t see the need for bringing in so many new WRs/TEs. Lazard, okay, that makes sense. Cobb and Lewis are harmless, I guess. OBJ is pushing it though. Wouldn’t love that. Plus there’s the locker-room aspect. That’s a lot of ego and big personalities in one room.
eff off rodgers