Allen Lazard’s Future with Jets Uncertain Amid Trade Talks

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets have permitted receiver Allen Lazard to seek a trade, but as of mid-March 2025, no deals have materialized. Nearly a week into NFL free agency, Lazard remains on the Jets’ roster, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

A source familiar with the situation indicated that there have been ongoing discussions regarding Lazard’s future. However, no changes have occurred as the NFL offseason unfolds. Lazard, who previously earned $22 million over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, is under contract for a $11 million base salary in 2025, with a cap hit of $13.184 million.

The Jets face tough decisions regarding Lazard’s contract, as there are no early triggers in the third year of the deal, allowing them to hold onto his rights if they are willing to manage his salary cap number. Even if they defer his release to after June 1, they would still incur a cap charge until that date.

Sources suggest that the Jets are waiting to see where quarterback Aaron Rodgers will end up. If a team acquires Rodgers, it could become a prime candidate to trade for Lazard, provided that the new team is open to allowing Rodgers to have input in the roster decisions.

Cutting Lazard before June 1 would trigger a full cap hit of $6.552 million for 2025, while a post-June 1 release would allow the Jets to spread that charge over two years. Currently, the Jets are leaning towards orchestrating a trade either before or after the deadline.

“Thankful for it all. The highs, the lows, the peaks, the valleys…” Lazard tweeted last offseason, reflecting a philosophical approach to the ups and downs of his career. However, the current landscape of his career seems precarious, especially as he navigates his relationship with Rodgers and the ongoing changes within the Jets’ roster.

In 2024, Lazard recorded 37 catches for 530 yards and six touchdowns and has shown notable chemistry with Rodgers in pivotal games, like the 58-yard touchdown in the 2021 NFC Championship. Yet, with Rodgers’ status uncertain, Lazard’s future hangs in the balance.

As the Jets sign new players, including Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, speculation about Lazard’s role continues to heighten. Nnadi, a Super Bowl-winning player, strengthens a defense that struggled in the past.

“They brought me here for a reason,” Nnadi stated, signifying an urgency to fortify the team’s defensive identity. In contrast, Lazard finds himself at a crossroads, with the trade talks looming overhead adding to the uncertainty.

The narrative of the 2025 season is evolving rapidly for the Jets as they try to build a winning team. “The greatest of all time. Drop the might. He’s the G.O.A.T.,” Lazard had previously said about Rodgers. As the offseason progresses, the Jets will have to decide if they can afford to keep Lazard around or if a trade becomes inevitable.