The New York Jets are on the hunt for a veteran quarterback this offseason, and while they are reportedly very much interested in a trade for Aaron Rodgers, signing free agent Derek Carr would be the right move.
This offseason is far better than most for franchises looking to upgrade the most important position on the field. Proven talents like Geno Smith, Daniel Jones, Jimmy Garappolo, and Derek Carr are free agents. Former NFL MVPs in Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson could be traded, and highly touted collegiate prospects CJ Stroud and Bryce Young are in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The New York Jets don’t pick until 13 in the draft and their owner has made it clear they prefer to acquire a proven veteran after using top picks on QBs in recent years. However, with the team having a talented defense and the AFC offensive and defensive rookies of the year, there is a belief they are a good QB away from being a contender.
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Over the last few weeks, reports have consistently linked the team to Rodgers if he becomes available — but that is still yet to be decided. However, Carr is up for grabs right now and he and the organization had a “very positive” conversation last week.
While adding a four-time Pro Bowler may not be as exciting to New York Jets fans as trading for a four-time league MVP, there are reasons why the former Raiders QB is a better long-term fit for the team.
The price is right when it comes to Derek Carr
Rodgers and Carr will both be expensive additions. However, the Green Bay Packers legend is owed well over $50 million next season. Surely, his contract can be restructured, but that will still require a massive sum of money for a player from the outside, who is still 39 years old and could retire at any time. And if the team couldn’t hand out a huge upfront check, they would have to cut a lot of salaries just to fit him on their payroll and be unable to do much else this offseason.
Carr could cost them $35 million or more annually, however, it would still allow them greater cap flexibility to improve the roster. At this point, it is hard to guarantee Rodgers will be enough to bridge the New York Jets gap from pretender to contender. Carr would still be a massive QB upgrade over 2022 starters Zach Wilson and Mike White.
Furthermore, the organization can hold on to draft picks and key young players by signing Carr, as opposed to having to give up worthwhile assets in a trade for a superstar signal-caller.
Age should very much be more than a number for Jets
Rodgers is a unique individual that very much marches to the beat of his own drum. Case in point, he is set to decide his playing future by taking a four-day darkness retreat. He has won a Super Bowl title, four MVP awards, countless Pro Bowl honors, and millions upon millions of dollars. There is not much else to do beyond making more money and trying to win another title.
Unsurprisingly, Rodgers has hinted at retirement almost every season for the last few years, and it would be a monumental risk to give up worthwhile talent or draft capital for a player that has a good chance of being one-and-done in New York. On the other hand, there is long-term value in Carr, a 31-year-old Pro Bowler in his prime, and a lot to prove with his second team in the NFL.
Is Aaron Rodgers the leader the New York Jets need?
There are certainly doubts about Rodgers’ dedication to doing everything necessary to win at this juncture in his career. He has forced out coaches and preferred a record-breaking contract last year as opposed to a deal that would give the Packers the best chance to win another Super Bowl. Now, instead of fighting to stay with the only team he has ever played for, he is very much open to taking his talents elsewhere.
- Derek Carr stats (2022): 3,522 yards, 24 TD, 14 INT, 86.3 Rating
There are no questions about Carr’s desire to win. His passion was on display during an emotional press conference last season and he would seem far more like the ultra team-first player the New York Jets need right now. Especially with so many around the league down on his skills, with a head coach and general manager only in their third year on the job, and a team that’s core is filled with mostly young stars.
Yes, Carr is not better than Rodgers, but he is still much better than what the New York Jets had in 2022, and better for this hard-nosed defensive team long-term.