Ex-Jets GM Tannenbaum: Russell Wilson Should Sign $1M Contract with Aaron Rodgers, NY

Former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum had a bold proposal for Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson.

Tannenbaum suggested Monday on Get Up that Wilson should sign with the Jets for $1 million to be Aaron Rodgers' backup.

The retired executive attempted to draw a parallel to 1998 when the Jets signed a 34-year-old Vinny Testaverde. New York reached the AFC title game that year, while Testaverde was a Pro Bowler for the second time.

The circumstances are much different with Wilson, though.

When Testaverde signed with the Jets, he was battling with Glenn Foley for the starting job after Neil O'Donnell moved on. That's not remotely the same as Wilson coming in with Rodgers sitting above him in the depth chart. Foley wasn't a surefire Hall of Famer and the Jets hadn't pinned their hopes of winning a Super Bowl squarely on his shoulders.

Wilson would be signing with the Jets knowing full well he's the No. 2 option with no path to becoming a starter absent a new injury to Rodgers or a setback in his recovery from a torn Achilles.

And being the understudy to Rodgers for a full season would probably do little toward improving his value with an eye toward free agency in 2025. He'd just be another year older with little to nothing to show for it on the field.

Perhaps there isn't a situation—assuming the Broncos cut him—where the nine-time Pro Bowler can come in and immediately be QB1, but surely he can find a suitor that would give him a better shot than the Jets.