How much would Aaron Rodgers' retirement cost Jets? Breaking down QB's contract and cap hit

Aaron Rodgers has been a winner for the majority of his professional football career. Rodgers was a four-time MVP and one-time Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers before taking his talents to New York to play for the Jets.

However, his time in New York hasn't gone according to plan, with the team currently on a five-game losing streak. This threatens to keep Rodgers out of the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and it's not doing favors to his legacy.

If things don't improve in New York, there's a possibility that the future Hall of Famer might be considering calling it a career. Hence, let's take a look at how much Rodgers' retirement could cost the Jets.

How much would Aaron Rodgers' retirement cost the New York Jets?

According to Spotrac, Aaron Rodgers has $49 million of dead cap money against a $23.5 million cap hit with the New York Jets in 2025. So, if the superstar quarterback decides to retire, the Jets could absorb hits of $14 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026.

According to the Sporting News, Rodgers is in the second year of a three-year, $112.5 million contract. It's important to note that his original deal was penned with the Green Bay Packers in 2022, and it was for a sum close to $150 million. At the time, it made him the league's highest-paid player.

However, upon joining the Jets, Rogers agreed to rework his deal to cut $37.5 million in order to assist the Jets in building a contender around him. He now earns $37.5 million per year on the Jets.

How has Aaron Rodgers performed on the New York Jets?

Aaron Rodgers was injured in his very first game as a member of the Jets. The injury ruled him out of the 2023 NFL season, and the Jets failed to make the postseason in his absence.

Rodgers recovered sufficiently and started 2024 as the team's starting quarterback. He has amassed a stat line of 1,896 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions in eight games. He ranks in the top 10 in the league in both receiving yards and touchdowns.

However, the Jets have stumbled out to a 2-6 record across the first two months of the season. They aren't looking good and would need a major revival to even finish the season with a .500 record. Rodgers and Co. must step up in the coming weeks to avoid further embarrassment as the season reaches its business end.