10:26am: The Jets are closing in on a Lazard deal, per Schefter, who adds they are also expected to pursue Randall Cobb. The latter target should be a clearer indicator they believe Rodgers is coming. Cobb has played 12 NFL seasons; 10 of those came with Rodgers in Green Bay. When Rodgers dropped his 2021 trade request, he drove Packers brass to reacquire Cobb from the Texans via trade. Cobb joins Lazard as a free agent, having played out a reworked contract in 2022.
Cobb is going into his age-33 season and would make for an atypical No. 4 wide receiver, but considering the Jets’ quarterback pursuit, the veteran slot target certainly sits as a logical candidate here. The Jets would be Cobb’s fourth team; he played with the Cowboys in 2019 and Texans in 2020. The Jets are taking Rodgers’ input regarding free agency targets, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets. The Cobb connection certainly makes that clear.
The team, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini (on Twitter), remains optimistic Rodgers will indeed follow in Brett Favre‘s footsteps, 15 years later. All signs still point toward a trade, per Cimini, but this has become quite the drawn-out courtship. The Packers appear onboard with starting the Jordan Love era. The Jets will need to know if Rodgers is in or out soon, as teams’ budgets are changing rapidly as barely 24 hours remain until the 2023 league year.
10:15am: As the football world still awaits an Aaron Rodgers decision, reasonable dot-connecting can commence regarding the Jets’ wide receiver plans. They are working to reach an agreement with Allen Lazard, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
At least one other team is trying to add the Packers wide receiver-turned-free agent, but the Jets are attempting to reunite him with Nathaniel Hackett (and, if they can finally push this saga past the goal line, Rodgers). Lazard has spent the past four seasons with the Packers, consistently earning praise from Rodgers along the way.
The Jets appear to be in the lead for Lazard, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who notes the other team in on Lazard may not be an aggressive pursuer at this point (video link). This package deal now has a better chance of coming to pass, though Lazard still seemingly resides as the second domino here. The receiver market began to move Tuesday morning, via Jakobi Meyers‘ Raiders agreement. Lazard resides as one of the second-tier options available on what is viewed as a mediocre free agency wideout crop.
The Packers conjured up an unsuccessful plan — for 2022, anyway — to increase Lazard’s role after trading Davante Adams and letting Marquez Valdes-Scantling walk in free agency. This blueprint helped lead to Green Bay’s disappointing 9-8 season, but Lazard did amass a career-high 60 receptions (on 100 targets — 40 more than his previous single-season standard) and 788 yards. Lazard, 27, has 14 touchdown receptions over the past two seasons.
The 6-foot-5 pass catcher is also one of the league’s best run-blocking wide receivers. The Jets would be asking Lazard to play a role more in line with his skillset as well, given Garrett Wilson‘s presence. The team has Corey Davis going into the final year of his contract and Elijah Moore coming off a down sophomore season. Davis has been rumored as a potential cap casualty; were the Jets to take this route, they would save $10.5MM. That would help in their ongoing effort to add Rodgers’ salary, be it a reworked number or not, to their cap sheet.
Hackett was with the Packers when they clamed Lazard via waivers in 2019. It would be interesting to see if Gang Green planned to push for that reunion were Rodgers ultimately not ticketed for the Big Apple, but as it stands now, multiple connections tie Lazard to the team.
How obvious are the Jets trying to be? C’mon Aaron…..here boy, here boy.
*wags tail* [since I’m Aaron, too…]
It’s possible that the Packers could take Corey Davis in the deal with the Jets. I thought Lawson and Wilson were possibilities in that deal as well, but Zach will most likely be sticking around since Mike White’s in Miami. Lawson could still be included if they’re willing to turn the reins over to Jermaine Johnson.
its over packers, its finally over……………….
We had a good, decent run. Should have won more Super Bowls in the last 30 years, however. Back to the crap team status again.
The Lynn Dickey era has returned in Green Bay.
The Lynn Dickey years were a string of 8-8. Packers are already there.
If AR12 has any influence on who the Jets sign, he’s clearly playing them for suckers and an easy salary without commitment.
Funny. That’s what everyone was saying in 2008 when we traded Favre.
I am basing my comment on the odds of getting three HOF QB’s in a row.
But going back to 2008, after 3 seasons of Favre doing the “maybe I will retire, maybe I won’t…hold on…” I had more confidence in Rodgers since he and Smith were considered the #1 QBs in the 2005 draft.
Love? Not too impressed with what I see so far. But I am willing to admit “I was wrong” if he even becomes a Top 12 QB in the NFL.
Randall Cobb? Somehow I think using that roster spot for a guy that makes tackles on special teams would be more valuable.
I’d laugh so hard if he ends up telling the packers and jets that he’s just going to retire. I think at this point in his life going to a hookah/Hippie fest Labor Day weekend is more important that dealing with the NY/NJ media
Your beloved NY/NJ media has been gutted. NYC tabloids are hollowed out, NJ media is servile, and talk radio is for mouth-breathers.
Lazard and potentially Cobb on the Jets means Elijah Moore gone via a trade. Moore is being linked with Philly and Cleveland, two clubs the Jets play this fall.
Lazard means Davis is gone, not Moore. It’s entirely possible they trade Moore, given that he was underperforming and vocally unhappy last year, but he wouldn’t be out the door just because they acquire Cobb. Cobb is 32 and hasn’t played 400 snaps in a season since 2019.
Obviously, the greatest significance of a Lazard signing is the Rodgers connection, but he also makes sense for them given that they were likely going to end up cutting Davis. I like Davis, but he’s making too much money for his production and durability, they have an easy out on his deal, and Lazard can fill that role of big-bodied receiver who can block in the run game.
Why would you go for Cobb? I would think the Jets are doing Rodgers the favor by taking him in as opposed to Rodgers doing the favor by going there.
most definitely not the case… the jets want rodgers at all cost, and that cost is apparently his buddies too. wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see bakhtiari included in the trade
Why would the JETS go thou all this drama, or any other NFL team with this clown. Sorry Jets fans they aren’t winning a Super Bowl with this guy behind center and Salah on the sideline. All this for someone who is only there to collect a check? He seriously has issues on who he is.
Perfectly stated. They can make all these moves and still not compete with Cincinnati, Buffalo and Kansas City. It’s going to set them back really far, too. I hate to see this.
I Think Roger’s has a hand in all these things Jets are doing right now. I think Roger’s secretly telling the jets don’t say anything right now but to go out and get Hackett as a start then go get certain players. It has to be. There was NO WAY in hell the jets will let a lot of these QB’s slip bye without making sure of a certain guarantee. Here is proof, why won’t the jets get the Minnesota wide receiver? Because Roger want to surround himself with players he’s familiar with. Watch jets land Roger’s after they get this Green Bay players.