In a development that surprises exactly no one, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has received permission from the team to talk with the New York Jets. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported this morning that talks between the Jets and the four-time MVP will continue today after the two sides met yesterday.
Per @DanGrazianoESPN, talks between Aaron Rodgers and the Jets will continue into today.
Story here: https://t.co/kcvsDoWLGr
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 7, 2023
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also confirmed that Rodgers and the Jets have permission to be having discussions:
Aaron Rodgers has received permission to speak with the #Jets, source confirms. Some due diligence. https://t.co/QCP6VSoBYE
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2023
A Potential Trade of Aaron Rodgers Would Be Complicated
As many may have guessed, any trade involving Aaron Rodgers will not be easy. This is due to the money remaining on his three-year $150 million that he signed last offseason. Essentially, Rodgers has $108 million remaining on this deal, with $59 million of it due this year. According to Graziano:
“Rodgers is under contract through 2024 for $108.8 million. Technically, the contract, signed last March, runs through 2026, but 2025 and 2026 are considered “dummy” years for cap purposes. His deal includes a fully guaranteed $59.5 million this season, with $58.3 million coming in the form of an option bonus, payable before the start of the regular season.
“Because his bonus money is prorated, Rodgers wouldn’t hobble the Jets’ cap. He would count $15.8 million in 2023 and $32.5 million in 2024, cap-friendly for a player of his stature.
“The Packers would get hit with a $40.3 million “dead” charge in 2023 — nearly $9 million more than he’d count if he were on the roster.”
Fortunately for the Packers, they can take that extra $9 million hit and still be under the salary cap for 2023. Unfortunately, that also limits what they will be able to do in free agency. With so many needs, including wide receiver, tight end, safety, edge rusher, and defensive line, they may have to resort to signing free agents to vet minimum deals that would otherwise be “last resorts.”
This is not to say that the Packers could not sign quality players. Rather, it means that bigger free agent spending will happen in the future. It is also worth noting that players that the Packers have signed to smaller deals, such as Keisean Nixon, have been major contributors to the team.
They will have to get creative, that is for sure.
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