Right now, Rodgers doesn’t have any years beyond 2025 on his contract but his cap hit will linger. If he plays for the Jets in 2025, his dead cap hit in 2026 will be $35 million. They could conceivably push that over two years with the post-June 1 shenanigans.

More recently, the team traded for six-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams, another old friend who's still skilled, but past his prime. This was after firing head coach Robert Saleh and demoting Hackett, moves that clubs typically make once they're out of playoff contention. The Jets, though, hoped that these moves would create a spark.