An anonymous AFC scout said Aaron Rodgers has declined and people are afraid to admit it. The new Jets quarterback can use that to fuel his 2023 season.

Aaron Rodgers is getting a fresh start with the Jets but there is still plenty of skepticism that the 39-year-old will be able to recreate his past success.

After entering last season at No. 1 on ESPN's ranking of NFL quarterbacks as determined by executives, coaches and scouts (subscription required), Rodgers has slipped to No. 4 in this year's rankings.

And one scout would place him even lower than that.

"I think everyone is afraid to say he's declined a little," an AFC scout said. "He's still a great thrower and sees it really well, but he's more like [ranked] eight to 12 for me."

To be fair, Rodgers did have a rough season last year compared to MVP-caliber years past. He managed 3,695 yards, his lowest total in a complete season in his career. He threw 12 interceptions, the second-highest total in his career and first double-digit pick season since 2010. His QBR of 39.3 was also a career low by some margin.

Aaron Rodgers can prove doubters wrong about decline in 2023

So last season was certainly a step back.

Still, we've all just had the recent experience of watching a 43-year-old Tom Brady throw for 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns in his first season with the Buccaneers. Brady went on to top even those numbers in 2021 at 44 years old.

It should feel perfectly possible to see a revived Rodgers in New York without the weight of all that drama at the tail end of his time in Green Bay.

It could be time has caught up with Rodgers but it's too early to call 2022 a downward trend as opposed to a blip brought on by general dissatisfaction with his place in the Packers organization.