Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has played his final snap with the Green Bay Packers, opening the door for a blockbuster trade to the New York Jets that would be one of the biggest deals in NFL history. However, there are still complications to address before a trade is finalized.
Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, Rodgers officially declared his intention to play for the Jets in 2022. Following a darkness retreat, the four-time NFL MVP returned to discover the Packers were ready to move on from him.
- Aaron Rodgers stats (2022):Â 91.1 QB rating, 26-12 TD-INT, 3,695 pass yards, 6.8 ypa
New York flew out owner Woody Johnson, head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to meet with Rodgers at his home in California. In the meantime, the Packers and Jets have discussed broad trade parameters that would provide both franchises with the course of action they want to take.
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Green Bay is ready to turn the page at quarterback, confident heading into the 2023 season that quarterback Jordan Love is ready to be a quality starter. Meanwhile, New York believes its Super Bowl window opens with Rodgers and he is the missing piece that could help them hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since the 1968 season.
Rodgers, age 39, made it clear the lone barrier that is preventing a trade is the compensation Green Bay is seeking from New York. While there is no precise timeline for when a deal will be made, there appears to be an understanding of what it will take for an agreement to be reached.
Yahoo Sports‘ NFL insider Charles Robinson revealed on the You Pod to Win the Game podcast that a first-round pick from the Jets would likely be enough in the Packers’ eyes to officially trade Rodgers before the 2023 NFL Draft.
“Compensation-wise, from the conversations I’ve had, I think the feeling is ultimately a first-round pick is probably what ends up getting this done. I’ll say this about the Jets, they’re going to try and get this done as cheaply as they possibly can.”
Charles Robinson on New York Jets, Green Bay Packers discussions of an Aaron Rodgers trade
New York currently holds the 13th overall pick in the draft, a position where some of the top offensive tackle and wide receiver prospects will be available. It’s a glaring area of need for Green Bay and similar to the Davante Adams trade a season ago, general manager Brian Gutekunst wants to put the picks he acquires to immediate use.
Related: Aaron Rodgers acknowledges he wants to play for New York Jets
While the Jets can drag out trade negotiations with the Packers, they are facing their own pressure. Rodgers’ announcement that he wants to play for New York created excitement among the fan base that hasn’t been seen in more than a decade. If the Jets fail to land Rodgers, forcing them to settle for trading for a veteran quarterback like Ryan Tannehill, this offseason will be viewed as a major disappointment.
- Aaron Rodgers contract: $31.62 million cap hit (2023), $40.7 million cap hit (’24), $59.3 million cap hit (’25), $53.45 million cap hit (’26)
The Packers and Jets will keep negotiating, working through the necessary trade compensation and how much of Rodgers’ contract Green Bay covers. Whether it happens in March or April, though, Rodgers will almost certainly be the Jets’ quarterback in Week 1.
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