Allen

Lazard

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Jets are open to keeping Lazard in 2025. Brought to New York as part of the failed Aaron Rodgers starter set, Lazard — who has two years remaining on his deal with the Jets — will see if there are any teams interested in his services. After being held to 37 receptions over 12 games in 2024, Lazard’s best shot is to wait for Rodgers to sign with a team and bring in his buddies, as he did with the Jets in 2023. Lazard, 29, is three years removed from his career-best 2022 season in Green Bay. He would count as a $13.2 million salary cap hit for the Jets in 2025, and the Jets can save $6.6 million in cap space by releasing Lazard if no trade materializes.

Rosenblatt lays it out pretty clearly, writing that Lazard “was always getting released after the second year of a disastrous four-year, $44 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2023.” The price for playing ball with Aaron Rodgers when the team traded for him was to sign his long-time buddy Lazard, who spent five seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay. As many expected, Lazard hasn’t proven to be much of an offensive upgrade for the Jets through two seasons, amassing 60 catches for 841 yards and seven scores thus far. After getting off to a strong start in 2024, in which he posted a 30-412-5 line through the first seven games of the season, Lazard became an afterthought following the trade for Davante Adams and only cracked 50 receiving yards once after Week 7. The Jets can save $6.6 million in cap space if they designate him as a pre-June 1 release while taking on a $6.5 million dead cap hit. However, the savings move to $11 million with a dead cap hit of $2.1 million if he’s designated as post-June 1. Regardless, it won’t cost the team much to part ways with a receiver who has struggled to live up to his gaudy contract thus far.

With Aaron Rodgers back for the 2024 campaign, Lazard returned to his old form after a down 2023 in which he caught 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown. Lazard caught 37 passes for 530 yards and six touchdowns this season and looked to be on pace for a career year through the first six games (26-354-5) before a trade for Davante Adams following a Week 6 loss to the Bills derailed him. Nearly all of Lazard’s production for his career has come with Rodgers under center, making it hard to buy into his upside in what may be a post-Rodgers season. He remains under contract with the Jets through 2026 but can be cut for a $2.184 dead cap hit after June 1st. Lazard has an $11 million base salary he’s set to earn in each of the next two seasons. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Jets opted to move on from him when it’s financially convenient to do so.

He played a Jets-high 54 snaps but managed just three targets, one of which wound up being Aaron Rodgers’ second interception of the game. Over the last month since coming off IR for his chest injury, Lazard has 13 targets, four catches, and 47 receiving yards despite playing 204 snaps. He’s not a reliable Week 18 stream no matter how desperate things are for you.

Lazard was fifth on the team in targets and had two brutal drops on the day as well. He will continue to be involved because Aaron Rodgers likes him, but he should not be on fantasy rosters.

Lazard returned to the Jets’ lineup after missing more than a month with a chest injury. Lazard ran a route on 36 of Aaron Rodgers’ 46 drop backs and took a distant backseat to Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson, who combined for 21 targets on the day. Lazard is not fantasy relevant.

Offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer was activated from injured reserve as well. Lazard had 412 yards and five touchdowns before suffering the chest injury in Week 8. Most of his production came before Davante Adams joined the mix, so fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him to keep up the pace in the final month of the season. As a distant third receiver for a struggling offense, Lazard is not on the fantasy radar for Week 14.

Lazard could return to action as soon as this week against Miami. He’s been on injured reserve since late October with a chest injury the Jets have described as “strange” in nature. His return to the New York lineup would mean a reduced role for rookie Malachi Corley, who has five targets over the team’s past three games. Lazard likely won’t be fantasy relevant in 12-team leagues.

Placed on IR on Wednesday, Lazard is already set to miss four games no matter what. This makes it sound like the rest of his season is genuinely in doubt. Mike Williams will step in as the Jets third receiver going forward unless Williams is traded. Malachi Corley may get a shot too as long as he stops self-fumbling balls on his own before getting in the end zone.

Lazard was ruled out for Week 9 on Wednesday but will now miss at least four games while recovering from his chest injury. The veteran receiver has caught 30 passes for 412 yards and five touchdowns this season and last played in Week 7 against the Steelers. Even when he returns, Lazard doesn’t figure to have a big role with Davante Adams now in the mix. The earliest Lazard can return is in Week 14 against the Dolphins.