Logo

New Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard knows what it is like to play with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and knows what the expectations for his new team will be once a trade is completed for the longtime Packers star to join him.

“I think with Aaron Rodgers as quarterback, the possibility to win is always a thing,” Lazard said Friday during a Zoom call with reporters. “With that being said, it’s really the Super Bowl. Especially at the point in his career and everything, his ability, four-time MVP winner, won back-to-back MVPs two, three years ago.

“His caliber of play automatically elevates everybody’s potential and ability on the field immediately.”

Lazard signed his four-year, $44 million contract on Friday, officially joining the Jets.

Rodgers said this week he wants to play for the Jets.


  Allen Lazard knows what Aaron Rodgers can bring to a team — and how it changes expectations. ISI Photos/Getty Images Allen Lazard knows what Aaron Rodgers can bring to a team — and how it changes expectations. ISI Photos/Getty Images

They are now trying to work out a trade with the Packers to make that happen.

For Lazard, who played with Rodgers over the last four seasons, he said the decision to come to the Jets was not based on joining the quarterback, but on doing what is best for his career.

That does not mean he won’t be happy to see Rodgers again.


  Allen Lazard and Aaron Rodgers connected for six touchdowns last season. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Allen Lazard and Aaron Rodgers connected for six touchdowns last season. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“It feels good knowing that 12’s going to be my quarterback again,” Lazard said. “Me and my decision coming here was purely based off of that and making sure I’m doing what’s best for my career.

“Obviously, him being here definitely helps the entire organization take that next step that they need to to make a deep playoff run and go win that Lombardi Trophy.”

Lazard said he and Rodgers recently saw each other in Los Angeles at a place where they both work out.

He said they talked, but it was not as if they were planning to join up in New York.

He said Green Bay did not really try to re-sign him, something he expected after they did not extend his contract last offseason.

“They didn’t seem like they were going to miss me too much or anything,” Lazard said.

As for the Jets, he said the biggest reasons he came (besides the $44 million) is that he wanted to live near a big city after growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, and then playing in Green Bay.

He also said the coaching staff is a big reason why he is here. He praised head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

He has known Hackett, a former offensive coordinator with both Jacksonville and Green Bay, since he signed as an undrafted free agent to the Jaguars’ practice squad in 2018 and then played for him with the Packers from 2019-21.

“He’s the best teacher I’ve ever had in my life,” Lazard said. “That goes from school to football. He just makes learning fun. … He allows you to go out there and just play fast and not think. Because of that is the reason I’ve had a lot of success these past few years.”

Lazard said it has not hit him yet that he just signed a big-money, free-agent deal just five years after he was undrafted out of Iowa State.

“I still feel undrafted because the checks haven’t hit yet,” he joked.


  Lazard went from undrafted free agent to a serious Jets payday. AP Lazard went from undrafted free agent to a serious Jets payday. AP

Lazard wore No. 13 in Green Bay, but that has been retired with the Jets for Don Maynard.

Lazard said he is not sure what number he will wear yet, but is leaning toward No. 5, which he wore in high school and college.

Jets fans won’t care what number he wears as long as he catches touchdown passes from Rodgers and elevates a team that has not been to the playoffs in 12 seasons.

Lazard said he embraces being a team leader.

“I know how to win,” Lazard said. “I know what it’s like to operate in late-game situations, in tough situations. We’re going to carry that same standard, same expectations here as well.”

The Jets agreed to a deal with veteran P Thomas Morstead on Friday.

Morstead punted in seven games for the Jets in 2021 when Braden Mann was hurt.

He did well, but the Jets let him go after Mann returned from his injury. Now, the two will compete for the job.

The Jets also agreed to a deal with center Trystan Colon, who started four games for the Ravens in the last three years and appeared in 20.

Colon is likely a depth signing for the Jets, who are still looking for a starting center. 

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy