Aaron Rodgers seems to be getting along just fine with the New York Jets during OTAs. The Green Bay Packers traded the four-time MVP this offseason. While the Packers are shouldering their fair share of his cap hit this season, the Jets are taking on a lot for Rodgers’ salary. One cap casualty could bring in a major pass-rushing asset for an NFC North rival.
Aaron Rodgers’ contract could force a trade that hurts the Green Bay Packers
The Bears need help at defensive end this offseason. They had the worst pass rush last season and didn’t add starting talent at the defensive end position. Brad Biggs with the Chicago Tribune recently wrote that Jets defensive end Carl Lawson could be the perfect fit for the Bears via a trade:
“He’s entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $15 million this season. The New York Jets have a host of edge rushers and Lawson is rumored to be available in a trade. Considering the contract, a late-round pick might make it happen. Lawson had seven sacks with 24 QB hits last season. He has totaled 27 sacks over five seasons.”
The Jets have certainly hedged their bets on Lawson this offseason. After trading for Rodgers, the Jets drafted defensive end Will McDonald IV in the first round. McDonald would be a much cheaper option for the Jets as a defensive end than Lawson if the Jets wanted to trade the veteran. And there’s good reason to think they would like to trade Lawson.
The Packers don’t want to see Lawson on the Bears
As Josh Schrock with NBC Sports pointed out recently, Rodgers’ hefty contract is taking up a lot of salary cap space, even after the update to his contract with the new restructure. Cutting or trading Lawson to the Bears would save them much-needed cap space this season for other needed positions
“It has long been assumed that the New York Jets will either cut Carl Lawson or ask him to rework his contract, especially given Aaron Rodgers’ mammoth contract.
However, Rodgers restructured his contract upon coming to New York, pushing almost all of his cap hit to 2024. As it stands Thursday, the Jets still have $10 million in cap space with Lawson’s $15 million base salary.”
$10 million isn’t a lot for the Jets to play with at this point in the offseason, especially given the all-in nature of this season with Rodgers being unsure of his plans in 2024. Freeing up Lawson’s contract could add cap space to help the team make a run in the playoffs, as the Jets have their defensive end positions taken care of.
It would be an interesting case of blowback for the Packers if Lawson ended up with the Bears via the fallout of the Rodgers trade. It’s still a long shot Lawson would join the Bears. Jets head coach Robert Saleh wants to keep him. But anything is possible after one of the craziest starts to the NFL offseason in recent memory.
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3 Comments
Aaron Rodgers is the biggest diva ever!!!! New York can have his arrogant ass!
If the Green Bay Packers are the least but concerned about the Bears adding a pass rusher that averages less than 5.5 sacks per year in his 5 year career, then God help us all. If they’re concerned at all about what the Bears do then we might as well throw in the towel now. Just give up. This is just the latest in a long list of stupid articles from this website.
It says “Packers don’t want to see Lawson on Bears” lol 😁 Lawson don’t want to see himself on the Bears🤣🤣