If you thought the Gang Green’s quarterback carousel couldn’t get any wilder, buckle up. Aaron Rodgers? Gone. After the 5-12 season, the Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey informed Rodgers that they were going in a different direction as the four-time NFL MVP will need to find a new home if he wants to continue playing in 2025. So the Jets will be on their eighth starting quarterback since 2020. The Jets own the seventh overall pick. In all likelihood, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders won’t be there when the Jets select, so they might not find their franchise quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. here comes a twist that might just break Jets fans’ brains: Sam Darnold. Yes, that Sam Darnold.

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz predicted the Jets might sign Darnold, whom the franchise had selected third overall in the 2018 draft. Unfortunately, Darnold lasted only three seasons with the Jets that was a disaster. During that period, Darnold went 13-25, threw 45 touchdowns to 39 interceptions, and was sacked 98 times. After hopping around the league, he finally found his time in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings, leading them to the playoffs while throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, making his first Pro Bowl. But here comes another twist- for those who are still unimpressed with Darnold.

The Las Vegas Raiders are “likely to have some interest” in Darnold, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, especially after Matthew Stafford’s extension with the Rams. Then where do the Jets head?

If rumors are to be believed, the Jets are “ready to go into the season with veteran Tyrod Taylor as their starting QB.” Signed as a backup in 2024, the veteran QB is now touted as a serious contender to take the reins as the Jets’ starter in Week 1. The 35-year-old brings a seasoned vibe to the Jets with 58 career starts across seven teams. His two-year, $12 million deal from last offseason will keep him under contract through 2025, with a wallet-friendly $6.8 million cap hit. “Taylor is the early favorite,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic noted, indicating his popularity among teammates-especially star wideout Garrett Wilson, who’s reportedly a big fan.

After a rocky 2024 where Wilson and Rodgers clashed, Taylor’s locker-room popularity might be important for the Jets. Plus, although not great, his stat line isn’t too bad: a 65.8% completion rate and a tidy 8-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the last two seasons. Taylor’s a bridge option who can keep the team formidable while they groom a rookie. “He’s someone who can hold down the fort,” SNY’s Connor Hughes said on Jets Class, praising Taylor’s dual-threat flair-2,275 career rushing yards and a knack for deep shots. But there are pain points.

Durability’s the big question mark for Taylor. He has never started a full season, and injuries have chased him- from a punctured lung with the Chargers to wrist issues with the Giants. If the Jets go with him, they will surely need a solid backup plan, especially since rookie Jordan Travis is still rehabbing a leg injury. Despite everything, Taylor’s ready for the challenge. “My body feels great, my arm feels amazing,” he told Newsweek Sports in February 2025, signaling he’s willing to take the lead. So does that mean a reunion between Darnold and the Jets is absolutely impossible?

“The idea seems ridiculous. Darnold going back to the Jets — the organization that nearly destroyed his career? But the difficulty with placing Darnold on a new team is that you want to match him with a franchise where the offensive coordinator will run an offense similar to what Kevin O’Connell had for him in Minnesota. That’s what allowed Darnold to finally flourish, overcome his early-career bust status and rank 14th with a 60.4 QBR in 2024,” Schatz commented. However, he has one more thing to point out.

Schatz believes, new Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who was part of the Detroit Lions staff last season with Glenn, would be a good fit with Darnold due to his familiarity with under center play-action calls. Although he doesn’t come from the Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan tree, Engstrand seems like a good match because of the way the Lions used under-center play-action when Engstrand was working under Ben Johnson. “The Vikings had the quarterback under center 34% of the time this past season, while the Lions were at 36%. Perhaps a new coaching staff could guide Darnold and the Jets to the playoffs — just not quite in the way fans expected when the Jets took him third overall in 2018,” he added.

That’s a hard sell to a fanbase that still has nightmares of ‘seeing ghosts’. But if the Jets are serious about this, it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve made a confounding decision. With Rodgers out, the franchise is at a crossroads. They could draft a young QB. They could roll with Taylor. Or they could take a high-stakes gamble on Darnold’s second act (if the Sin City doesn’t intrigue him). You know, this one’s not ending anytime soon. As for A-Rod? Well, let’s see what’s hot around him.

Aaron Rodgers might swap the Green for Blue

Aaron Rodgers’ time with the Jets? A short-lived experiment that never really got off the ground. One season cut short by injury, another filled with disappointment, and now, here we are—Rodgers is officially a free agent.

But here’s the twist: he might not be leaving New York after all. The Giants, fresh off a brutal 3-14 season, are reportedly circling. And Rodgers? Well, he’s already made it clear he’s not looking to pack his bags just yet.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in New York,” Rodgers said. “I mean, obviously, we haven’t had the success that we’ve all wanted to have. But, you know, I’ve made some good friendships on the team. I’ve enjoyed living in Jersey.” Sounds like a guy who isn’t eager to relocate. And with the Giants in desperate need of a quarterback, the dots are connecting fast.

Now, why would the Giants make this move? They hold the third overall pick in the draft and were eyeing Shedeur Sanders. But if Rodgers walks through the door, that changes everything. Drafting a QB could take a backseat, freeing them up to plug other holes.

It’s a short-term play, sure, but the Giants need stability under center. And say what you want about Rodgers—he brings experience, leadership, and, let’s be honest, some serious headlines.

Of course, this move isn’t without its risks. The Jets went all-in on Rodgers, and look where that got them. Bringing him into the Giants’ locker room means embracing the Rodgers Show, media circus included.

Plus, at 42, how much does he have left? One year? Two? The Giants have to decide if that’s worth the gamble.