The New York Jets' decision to part ways with Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields has cost them a lot of money.
Former New York Jets QBs Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields are eating up $48 million in cap space (about 16%) because of "dead" charges, per ESPN.
The Jets cut Rodgers last offseason and traded Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason.
New York went 3-14 last season and Fields was benched for Tyrod Taylor. Meanwhile, Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers made the playoffs.
Rodgers finished the 2025 season with 3,322 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns for the Steelers. Meanwhile, Fields, Taylor and Brady Cook combined for 2,777 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes for the Jets.
The Jets owed Fields $10 million fully guaranteed (out of a $20 million salary) before the trade, and to facilitate the deal, New York paid $7 million.
It will be intriguing to see if Rodgers plays another season in the NFL. The four-time MVP has 527 passing touchdowns and 66,274 passing yards with the Green Bay Packers, Jets and Steelers.
New York's starting QB next season will be Geno Smith. The Jets acquired Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. The veteran QB began his career with New York.
In his first stint with the Jets, Smith went 12-18 as a starter. He threw for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. It wasn't pretty.
Smith enters next season with 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 career interceptions in the NFL. His starting record is 42-56-0. The West Virginia product made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and won the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Jets have the second pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They could take a QB.
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