When the New York Jets announced they would release quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a post-June 1 designation, many fans immediately assumed wide receiver Allen Lazard would follow Rodgers immediately out of Florham Park due to their connection and Lazard’s high cap number relative to his production with the Jets.
Not so fast.
On Thursday, the Jets and Lazard agreed on a restructured contract. The receiver agreed to take an $8.5 million pay cut while lowering his 2025 cap number from $13.2 million to $4.6 million.
In his new deal, Lazard will receive only $1.75 million in guaranteed money, while the Jets will save slightly over $8 million in cap space.
Many fans have started to assume the Jets are guaranteed to keep Lazard on the roster for the 2025 season, but that is not the case.
The reworked contract simply provides the organization with more flexibility with the Iowa State product.
Should the Jets explore a trade that includes Lazard?
Trading Lazard is, without a doubt, the best course of action for this team.
After the restructured deal, dealing him after June 1 would net New York another $2.4 million in cap savings, lowering Lazard’s cap hit to $2.2 million.
While the Jets lack depth at wide receiver, his production without Rodgers is difficult to justify a roster spot at any price. With head coach Aaron Glenn taking over this roster, Gang Green must fully move on from the Rodgers experiment, and trading Lazard is one step in that process.
Without Rodgers during the 2023 season, Lazard played in 14 games (12 starts), recording only 311 yards and one touchdown on 23 targets while posting a horrendous 17.9% drop rate, the second-highest among qualified receivers (minimum 20% of their team’s offensive snaps). He also had five penalties.
In 2024, with Rodgers under center, the Iowa native saw an uptick in overall production, totaling 530 yards and six touchdowns in just 12 games. However, his drop issues persisted. Despite playing with his former Green Bay Packers teammate, Lazard had a league-worst 17.8% drop rate. His penalty issues worsened, jumping to a career-high six.
If Rodgers signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jets could consider sending Lazard to Pittsburgh. This would provide Rodgers with a familiar face while adding a veteran depth option for Arthur Smith’s offense.
Lazard’s restructured deal makes him more valuable on the trade market. A team trading for Lazard would only have to take on his $2.25 million base salary for the 2025 season. His low cap number with just one year left on his contract could attract more suitors.
Regardless of Lazard’s status, the Jets’ wide receiver room remains thin. The team’s other receivers under contract include Garrett Wilson, Josh Reynolds, Tyler Johnson, Xavier Gipson, and Malachi Corley.
A Lazard trade could yield a day-three draft pick, which the Jets could use to target a younger and potentially better wide receiver in this year’s NFL draft.
