Aaron Rodgers is gone from the Jets (and likely headed to the Steelers or Giants), but his salary won’t soon be forgotten on his former team’s books.
The Jets are planning to officially release Rodgers on Wednesday, the first day of the NFL’s new league year, with a post-June 1 designation, [according to ESPN](https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1899903019598168145).
So what does that mean? The short version: the Jets will carry Rodgers' full 2025 cap charge of $23.5 million until June 1 when it drops to $14 million. A savings of $9.5 million.
It’s not a surprise. New general manager Darren Mougey hinted the Jets were leaning toward a post-June 1 designation.
And it’s a sensible decision. The Jets have about $50 million in cap space remaining and could spend the rest of it now because they know that the savings from Rodgers will allow them to pay for their 2025 draft class. And the salary cap is expected to grow in 2026, which will help the Jets absorb the $35 million Rodgers (long gone by then) will count against their cap.
But there’s an argument to be made that the Jets could have been better off just ripping the band-aid off right now. Had they cut Rodgers straight away his cap charge would have surged to $25.5 million to $49 million for 2025.
They still would have had $15 million in cap space remaining, more than enough room to make another big signing or two and sign their draft class if they restructured some of their other contracts.
And then they wouldn’t have owed Rodgers a dime in 2026, granting them salary flexibility to pursue any option on the table in terms of free agents or trades.
Either way, it shouldn’t be a big deal. The Jets still have enough flexibility to maneuver in 2025 and 2026 even with Rodgers as a post-June 1 designation.
But by handling Rodgers' release this way, and clearing more cap space for now, it could be a sign that the Jets are ready to work on extensions for some of their key young stars, like Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, sooner rather than later.
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_Andy Vasquez may be reached at_ [_avasquez@njadvancemedia.com_](mailto:avasquez@njadvancemedia.com)_._