Stay or go? From Aaron Rodgers to Anders Carlson, vote on which Jets should return in 2025

The New York Jets still have six games left this season, but the calendar might as well have turned to 2025 already. This is what happens when a team fires its head coach and general manager before Thanksgiving.

There is still a lot to learn from the last six games, but the question now is more about who will be back in 2025. A lot of it revolves around a specific quarterback, but it actually extends across the entire roster, especially with the Jets preparing to implement an entirely new regime.

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So let’s play a little game of “Stay or Go” with the Jets’ key players. There is a poll at the end of the story so readers can vote player by player who should return in 1925.

QB Aaron Rodgers: Go
Rodgers has six weeks to show he still has something left in the tank – which, if he wants to return, is a must to convince owner Woody Johnson (and a new GM and head coach). With so much unknown, it still seems more likely that Rodgers will retire or play elsewhere in 2025.

QB Tyrod Taylor: Stay
His 2025 salary is guaranteed and Taylor could be viable as a bridge quarterback for any rookie the Jets take in the draft.

QB Jordan Travis: Stay
At this point, Travis is more of a lottery ticket than someone you can rely on. Due to a horrific leg injury he suffered in college, he hasn’t practiced since being drafted in the fifth round last spring.

RB Breece Hall: Stay
He didn’t have the star season many expected, but he’s still a cornerstone of the offense. Hall is currently on pace to finish with 1,596 total yards – about the same as he did in 2023 (1,585).

RB Braelon Allen: Stay
He showed some flashes at the start of the season before fading, but still has a bright future.

RB Isaiah Davis: Stay
So far he has played more as a returner than a running back, but he will be back.

WR Garrett Wilson: Stay
And the Jets should pay him ASAP. But does Wilson want to be a Jet long-term? Given all the turmoil he dealt with as an offensive coordinator and quarterback, it would be hard to blame him if he wanted out.

WR Davante Adams: Go
He’s actually solid, even if it seems like he and Rodgers haven’t rediscovered their old chemistry. The Jets should consider bringing him back if he’s willing to listen, but it’s more likely that if Rodgers is gone, Adams is gone too. The remaining two years of Adams’ contract are non-guaranteed.

WR Allen Lazard: Go
He had a nice bounce-back season, although the Jets saw what Lazard looks like in 2023 when Rodgers isn’t the one throwing passes to him. They may have to cut him because of cap savings ($6.6 million).

WR Malachi Corley: Stay
The Jets haven’t figured out how to utilize their highly touted third-round rookie (three balls, 16 yards), but he’s not going anywhere.

WR Xavier Gipson: Stay
He didn’t have a great season as a returner and doesn’t make much of an impact offensively, so he’ll be fighting for a roster spot in 2025.

WR Irv Charles: Stay
He is the Jets’ best shooter on special teams and should return.

TE Tyler Conklin: Go
Conklin will be a free agent. He was a great leader for the Jets but, like Wilson, had to deal with a lot of inconsistent quarterback play and might be better served going elsewhere.

TE Jeremy Ruckert: Stay
He was a disappointment. The 2022 third-round pick should be ready for a bigger role this year, but he has fallen behind as a blocker and has not made an impact as a pass catcher. He will fight for a squad spot next summer.

OT Tyron Smith: Go ahead
Signing Smith was a good idea in theory — and a relatively low risk considering how much of his salary is based on incentives — but it ultimately didn’t work out. Smith allowed the most sacks of any Jets offensive lineman before suffering a neck injury; It will be surprising if he plays in a Jets jersey again.

OT Morgan Moses: Stay
Moses was solid for the Jets — allowing just one sack and nine pressures in 329 pass-blocking snaps — and he was a key leader in the locker room. The Jets should look to re-sign him at the right price.

OT Olu Fashanu: Stay
He has shown flashes and should be a cornerstone of the Jets’ offense.

G John Simpson: Stay
He will go down as one of Joe Douglas’ better free agent signings. Simpson has played at a Pro Bowl level and PFF named him the fifth-best guard this season.

G Alijah Vera-Tucker: Stay
He’s had a hard time staying healthy, but he’s still a solid player and is under contract for another year.

C Joe Tippmann: Stay
He’s been mostly solid, if inconsistent, but the Jets can count on returning at least four or five young offensive linemen, which should be a strength heading into 2025.

DE Haason Reddick: Go ahead
The Reddick trade couldn’t have ended much worse. His staying power extended into midseason, and Reddick hasn’t made an impact since joining the team (a half-sack doesn’t get you much money).

EN Will McDonald: Stay
He got off to a fast start — eight sacks in the first seven games — but hasn’t recorded a single sack since Reddick joined the team. McDonald is expected to start for the Jets in 2025.

DE Jermaine Johnson: Stay
Losing Johnson may have been a bigger deal than anyone thought in Week 2. The Jets miss his versatility as a pass rusher and run stopper.

DE Michael Clemons: Go ahead
An example of one of the Jets’ biggest problems: an unwillingness to bench players the coaches like despite poor performance. On paper, the stats look okay (4.5 sacks), but that doesn’t accurately reflect how much of a liability Clemons was.

DT Quinnen Williams: Stay
Williams is having a good season (six sacks, 16 QB hits) while the defensive line around him has been mostly inconsistent. His contract runs until 2027.

DT Javon Kinlaw: Go ahead
One of Douglas’ biggest missteps: overpaying Kinlaw instead of keeping John Franklin-Myers. Kinlaw wasn’t a factor and the Jets should look to rebuild their defensive tackle group around Williams.

DT Solomon Thomas: Go ahead
He’s been a solid leader and is good as a backup, but he’s probably playing too much this season.

DT Leonard Taylor III: Stay
The undrafted rookie has shown promise and is someone worth developing.

LB Quincy Williams: Stay
He’s taken a step back after a breakthrough 2023 season, but he’s still a talent and can be a game-changing player at times.

LB CJ Mosley: Go
Mosley’s season has been blighted by injuries and even when he’s healthy, he’s clearly not the same player he used to be. He’s a good leader, but he could also retire — or the Jets could cut him with an appointment after June 1, saving $4 million.

LB Jamien Sherwood: Stay
Sherwood was a pleasant surprise when he took over from Mosley; The Jets should look to re-sign him this offseason.

CB Sauce Gardner: Stay
This will be a complicated discussion in the offseason. Gardner at his best could be the best cornerback in the NFL. But he has undoubtedly not been at his best this season and has not coped particularly well with the criticism that has come his way. He wasn’t terrible, but Gardner just doesn’t live up to his ridiculously high standards. Will a new GM want to trade him for a treasure trove of assets? It can’t be ruled out – but personally I would keep it.

CB DJ Reed: Go ahead
The best free agent signing of the Douglas era has been outstanding in all three years of his contract – and he’ll be looking to get paid this offseason. The next contract probably won’t come from the Jets.

CB Michael Carter II: Stay
He’s been banged up this season but is a solid cornerback for a few more seasons.

CB Brandin Echols: Go
Notably, he is the only Jets player to record any interceptions in 2024. He will get a chance somewhere else.

CB Qwan’Tez Stiggers: Stay
He was impressive in training camp but hasn’t really played defense this season. A player worth developing.

S Chuck Clark: Go ahead
The veteran missed some time due to injuries. He’ll be fine when healthy, but the Jets will likely remodel their safety room.

S Tony Adams: Go ahead
He is a young player who has been solid at times but is inconsistent, particularly as a tackler. It doesn’t help that Woody Johnson urged Jeff Ulbrich to bench Adams before the bye.

S Ashtyn Davis: Go ahead
After a nice 2023 season, he took a step back. He is popular with this coaching staff, but there will be a new staff for 2025.

S Isaiah Oliver: Stay
For the right price, Oliver is worth bringing back for his versatility in corners and safety.

K Greg Zuerlein: Go ahead
Zuerlein had a hell of a season and the Jets kept him just long enough to probably cost them a few games. He is on injured reserve and appears to have hit his last field goal for this team.

K Anders Carlson: Stay
So far, so good – he made all three of his field goal attempts, including one from 58 yards.

P Thomas Morstead: Stay
He’s a team leader under contract for next year – although the Jets could save $2.55 million by cutting him.

(Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)