Jets’ Allen Lazard out to prove he can be great regardless of Aaron Rodgers

The last time Allen Lazard went into a season under the assumption that anyone other than Aaron Rodgers would be throwing him the ball, he was on the Jaguars practice squad trying to make it as an undrafted free agent.

That was eight years ago, which gets to the heart of why Lazard is still a Jet, while Rodgers is a Pittsburgh Steeler.

Lazard was brought to the Jets because of his familiarity with Rodgers and then-offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, and was widely assumed to be going to the Steelers this offseason because of Rodgers.

The Jets even gave Lazard’s agent permission to look for a trade partner in March, but nothing materialized.

Instead of going to the Steelers, Lazard stayed with the Jets, taking an $8.5 million pay cut in the final year of his deal, in no small part to prove he can do it without Rodgers.

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“That’s pretty obvious,” Lazard said Tuesday in his first public comments since last season.

“My success isn’t determined off of who’s throwing me the ball [or] how we’re trying to approach it,” Lazard said. “I want to go out there and be great regardless of the other 10 guys out there. It’s the pride that I have by putting that jersey on, wearing the name on my back and also representing the organization that I’m playing for.

“So whoever’s throwing me the ball, I’m gonna go out there and compete the same way that I did whether it was Aaron or not. And I’ve done that my whole career, not just the NFL: college, high school. There’s a reason why I’m still here. It’s not just cause I had Aaron Rodgers throwing me the ball my whole life.”

Though Lazard is seen as likely to make the roster, it’s not necessarily a guarantee. The receiver room is crowded — with Josh Reynolds, Tyler Johnson, Arian Smith, Malachi Corley and Xavier Gipson all jockeying for position alongside Lazard and Garrett Wilson.

Lazard has pedigree, with seven years of NFL experience, but he has yet to make much of an impact in New York, catching 37 passes for 510 yards last season. When coach Aaron Glenn was hired, Lazard met with him and made clear that he wanted to remain a Jet.

“I came here to continue my legacy, and to be a part of something great and changing the culture,” Lazard said. “Even though the past two years haven’t gone that way, it doesn’t mean that steered me away from my goals, which is to come here and be a big part of the change and the turn of things with the Jets.”

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With the offense currently in a lull, having struggled for three consecutive practices, Lazard said he is in the process of building chemistry with Justin Fields and learning offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand’s terminology.

“It’s definitely grown a lot,” Fields said of the pair’s camaraderie. “He’s definitely savvy, smart when it turns to football in general. When we’re in the team meetings, he probably asks the most questions.”

“Always thought he was super talented and athletic, could throw the ball,” Lazard said of Fields. “I thought he did a phenomenal job last year. Just what he can do with his legs adds so much for the defense. That’s not to take anything away from his arm talent and his ability to throw the ball downfield accurately. He’s been doing a great job of that.”

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The Jets have gone all in on Fields. Lazard has gone all in on himself.

There is no creature comfort of Rodgers and Hackett now.

“I’m glad we were able to figure things out,” Lazard said. “I’m still here, and to be a part of this new regime and be a part of something great.”