Aaron Rodgers says he wouldn’t be surprised if the New York Jets decide to draft a quarterback in the summer.
In 2020, the Green Bay Packers recruited Jordan Love, who is now thriving at Rodgers’ old team.
Rodgers claims he would welcome the opportunity to mentor a young quarterback – if he decides to continue playing, a stark contrast to his reaction when Love was brought in four years ago.
While speaking after practice on Wednesday, Rodgers reiterated that he hasn’t made a decision about his future, but he made it clear that the Jets’ draft plans wouldn’t affect his choice.
“When they drafted Jordan, I felt like I was one bad stretch from being benched – and I won MVP a couple of years, so that’s the way the league is,” Rodgers said.
“You have to prove you can play every single week and through stretches.
“So if [the Jets] asked me back and they drafted a guy, I’d mentor the hell out of him if I was playing and I’d try to play as well as I could to keep him on the bench.”
.@AaronRodgers12 and @tae15adams connected 9 times for 198 yards and 2 TDs – all in the second half.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 17, 2024
Rodgers was 36 years old when the Packers used a first-round pick on Love. Despite the apparent succession plan, Rodgers responded by winning back-to-back MVP awards in 2020 and 2021 before being replaced by Love as Green Bay’s starter in 2023.
The circumstances are different now. Rodgers, at 41, is experiencing a down year by his own standards, and his future with the Jets is uncertain.
The franchise itself is undergoing significant changes, with a new general manager and head coach expected to join the team soon.
“I’m going to take some time after the year – unless I get released right away – but I’ll still take some time whether or not I want to play,” Rodgers added.
“But I’ll take some time to get away from it, either way.”
The Jets, who sit at 4-10 and face the Los Angeles Rams this week, could find themselves with two top-40 draft picks, potentially giving them the opportunity to select a quarterback.
If Rodgers decides to return, he said New York would be his first choice.
QB Aaron Rodgers on OL @olu_fashanu: “He’s a decade plus type of left tackle.” pic.twitter.com/EbXnBjp7wT
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 18, 2024
“I mean, there are a lot of reasons why this would be a great opportunity, but I’m going to see what happens,” Rodgers said.
“There are a lot of things yet to happen. You have to hire a GM, have to hire a head coach, and then whether or not I’m part of [the] conversation or whether or not they move on.
“Whatever happens, I’ll be taking my time and thinking about my future.”
Within the Jets organisation, the belief is that Rodgers might not return. However, his recent performances could complicate the decision for the incoming front office.
In the past two games, Rodgers has thrown for 628 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions, earning a 76.8 Total QBR – ranking sixth in the league.
