The New York Jets are one of the NFL teams with the most riding on their 2024 season. After acquiring four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a trade with the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Jets suddenly had Super Bowl aspirations. To support their new quarterback, they went out and signed several of his former Packers teammates, including wide receiver Randall Cobb.
Prior to the trade for Rodgers, New York had signed free agent wide receiver Allen Lazard in an attempt to lure the future Hall of Fame quarterback to the team. With two of his favorite pass catchers by his side, Rodgers and the Jets believed they had a real shot at being competitive in 2023.
Of course, that did not happen.
The New York Jets Struggled Without Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Unfortunately, Rodgers tore his Achilles just four snaps into his Jets tenure. An offseason that was so full of promise and optimism was completely wiped early in Week One. The four-time MVP was lost for the season and Zach Wilson was tasked with carrying on.
To make matters worse, neither Cobb nor Lazard played nearly as well as the Jets had hoped for when they signed them. Cobb finished the season with just five receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. Lazard had just 23 receptions for 311 yards and a touchdown.
It was the worst professional season for both players.
Since the end of the season, Cobb has taken a job with the SEC Network. He is not retired from the NFL, but clearly will not start the season on a professional roster.
Lazard, meanwhile, is entering the second year of the four-year 44 million contract he signed with the Jets prior to the 2023 season. Despite his status as one of Rodgers’ favorite teammates, he is not regarded highly by fans. Indeed, he is rather low on the depth chart for a player that is making as much as he is.
Given New York’s retooled offense and his poor performance last season, one NFL analyst believes the Jets should trade him before the regular season begins.
NFL Analyst Believes the New York Jets Should Trade Allen Lazard
With training camp set to start and Lazard’s role in the offense in question, Cody Woodroof of USA Today believes that the Jets should ship the Rodgers’ favorite to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a late-round draft pick:
“The New York Jets feel like a team that could make an aggressive trade to add talent this summer to help maximize the remainder of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ career. With only about $6 million in cap space, that might make a player like Lazard expendable in what will be a crucial season for the Jets. While he joined Rodgers in the 2023 offseason, he’s probably not going to start for the franchise this fall. Trading Lazard for a late-round pick would net New York $10 million in cap space, which could easily go to good use to add talent elsewhere on the roster.”
Woodruff also names the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions as possible trade destinations for Lazard.
The fact of the matter is that trying appease Rodgers by signing players that are his friends did not serve the Jets well last year. With no guarantee that the future Hall of Famer will even be productive himself this year, New York needs to do whatever they can to be competitive now while also setting themselves up for future success.
Trading Lazard will not hurt their chances of winning this year, and a late-round pick can prove valuable later.
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