This week, the NFL world will convene in Indianapolis for the annual scouting combine.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey will speak to reporters on Tuesday for the first time since their introductory press conference last month.
All 32 teams will test and interview several prospects before drills begin on Thursday. The Jets have a lot to figure out before free agency starts on March 12.
With that in mind, it’s time to review the top storylines entering the week.
What led to the team moving on from Aaron Rodgers?
Earlier this month, the Jets announced they would move on from Rodgers after two disappointing seasons. The last time reporters spoke to Glenn, he said Rodgers’ future would be discussed.
Now that we know Rodgers will not return, what led to the decision? We may never know exactly why Glenn, Mougey, and the Jets decided to move on from Rodgers. However, they will be asked if the decision came down to Rodgers’ declining skills, age, contract, or lack of a culture fit.
Like anything else, there are probably multiple reasons the Jets decided to move on from Rodgers. I’m not sure that will satisfy some of the angry Jets fans who have been clamoring for a competitive playoff team since 2010, the last time the team made the postseason.
Glenn and Mougey’s tenure with the Jets will ultimately be judged on whether they can find a franchise quarterback, something the organization has lacked for decades. It is their first year with the Jets, but it has been 14 years since they last made the playoffs. So the pressure is on Glenn and Mougey to find a long-term solution at quarterback.
Plan at quarterback for 2025
Since Rodgers won’t be back, what is the Jets’ plan at quarterback for the 2025 season? The free agent class isn’t great but provides a few options.
Among them is Justin Fields, who went 4-2 last season for the Steelers while Russell Wilson was nursing a calf injury. In six starts for Pittsburgh, Fields threw for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.
Other free-agent quarterbacks include Wilson, Jameis Winston, Sam Darnold, and Daniel Jones. The draft doesn’t provide a lot of options, either. Outside of Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback prospects are a mixed bag.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart will likely be the third quarterback selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but taking him at No. 7 is an enormous reach. But a good week of workouts and interviews at the combine could improve his draft stock.
The Jets could also go with Tyrod Taylor, the team’s backup last season, and potentially choose a quarterback on Day 2 or 3 of the draft. They also have Jordan Travis, whom the team drafted in the fifth round last year.
What other areas will the Jets focus on during free agency?
In addition to quarterback, the Jets have several holes to feel in free agency. Gang Green will have 28 free agents, and among the positions of need are wide receiver, right tackle, linebacker, defensive tackle, and safety.
Wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard could both be released before the start of the league year. If the Jets release Adams, they will gain $29.9 million in salary cap savings.
They would also add another $6.6 million by releasing Lazard, who hasn’t played up to expectations during his two seasons with the Jets. Linebacker C.J. Mosley could also be a cap casualty after only playing four games last season because of a toe and neck injury.
The Jets are projected to have $23.8 million in salary cap space, according to Over the Cap. Needless to say, the team will need to find more salary cap room to address their needs in free agency and the draft.
Could the Jets potentially make a big splash and move up the draft board?
There have been rumors about whether the Jets will try to trade up with the Titans to pick Ward or Sanders at No. 1 overall. With two months before the NFL Draft, the Jets likely won’t show all their cards this week in Indianapolis.
But we could have some idea if they would be interested in trading up for the top pick. The Jets will likely interview Ward and Sanders because it is standard protocol for teams to do so with top quarterbacks. However, the cost of moving up from No. 7 to No. 1 is too much.
Gang Green would probably have to give up at least three first-round picks to move up. If this was the 2024 draft class, that might warrant moving up for their chosen quarterback. Last year, six quarterbacks were selected in the first round—Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J. J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix—which tied the record from 1983.
The 2026 draft class could also be better than this year’s with players such as Texas’ Arch Manning, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, and Penn State’s Drew Allar. So there’s no need for the Jets to panic and give away the farm for either Ward or Sanders.