Report: Jets Allow Allen Lazard to Seek Trade as Aaron Rodgers Enters NFL Free Agency

The New York Jets reportedly granted wide receiver Allen Lazard permission to seek a trade Tuesday.

Despite the Jets allowing Lazard to explore other options, they are open to bringing him back next season as well, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Jets signed Lazard in free agency prior to the 2023 season in anticipation of the acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Lazard and Rodgers were teammates with the Green Bay Packers from 2018 to 2022 and then with the Jets from 2023 to 2024.

Last month, the Jets announced that they would move on from Rodgers this offseason, meaning he will likely be released in the near future.

During their time together in Green Bay, Rodgers and Lazard built a strong rapport. Lazard scored a career-high eight touchdowns in 2021 and followed it up with career highs in receptions (60) and receiving yardage (788) in 2022.

Lazard signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Jets, but things did not go according to plan in Year 1 of that deal.

Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tear on the Jets' first offensive drive of the season, resulting in Lazard's worst production since his rookie year in 2018, as he recorded just 23 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown.

Last season, Rodgers started all 17 games, but Lazard missed five contests due to injury.

Even so, Lazard enjoyed a solid bounce-back season as the Jets' No. 3 wideout behind Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams, finishing with 37 grabs for 530 yards and six scores.

The Jets struggled as a team, though, finishing just 5-12 and missing the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season.

Head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas were fired along the way, and they have since been replaced by Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, which is likely part of the reason why the Jets are exploring a roster makeover.

If the 41-year-old Rodgers catches on elsewhere and decides to play in 2025 rather than retiring, that team could be a logical landing spot for both Lazard and Adams.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Jets have fielded trade calls on Adams and will likely release him if they can't find a trade partner. Rapoport added that Adams "could rejoin" Rodgers elsewhere.

The 29-year-old Lazard may factor into that equation as well, and it is possible none of them will have to go too far in the end.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported last week there was "talk" at the NFL Scouting Combine about Rodgers reaching out to the New York Giants.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini then reported that the Giants were "shifting their interest" toward Rodgers after failing to land Matthew Stafford in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams.

Rodgers could be a solid bridge quarterback for one year with the Giants, and adding Adams and Lazard to a receiving corps that already includes Malik Nabers would give Rodgers and the G-Men no shortage of offensive firepower.