NFL Exec Defends Aaron Rodgers: Mentally, and Arm-Talent-Wise, He Was Still High-End

Aaron Rodgers still has at least one believer in the NFL.

"I thought mentally, and arm-talent-wise, he was still high-end," an executive told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated on Sunday. "The two tackles weren't very good, so any time he had to move in the pocket, he struggled. Not sure if that gets better in Year 2 after the injury or worse with age. [But] the Jacksonville game in particular he made some impressive decisions and throws."

The update comes after Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported Sunday the New York Jets informed the veteran quarterback they do not plan on bringing him back in 2025.

That isn't particularly surprising, as the 41-year-old was just 31st in the league in QBR during the 2024 campaign, per Pro Football Reference, while going 5-12 as a starter. Despite the comments from the executive, he was nowhere near as effective as he was during his peak on the Green Bay Packers.

Yet it was also the first year back from an Achilles injury that cost him all but his first few snaps during the 2023 campaign.

Rodgers was surely adjusting to his return to the field, and some of his best games came later in the campaign. He threw for four touchdowns in the final regular-season game against the Miami Dolphins after he threw for 289 yards and three scores in Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The executive specifically highlighted the Jaguars games with the comments.

Other teams will have to decide whether they expect Rodgers to get better as he is further removed from the Achilles injury or worse as he gets older.

Breer guessed the Jets will ultimately release him and give him "the freedom to choose his destination" since other teams may not want to assume the $37.5 million he is owed in 2025 ($2.5 million in base salary and $35 million option bonus).

And that will set the stage for New York to reset the franchise with a new quarterback, head coach and general manager for the 2025 campaign.