Multiple Trade Packages Surface To Lure Aaron Rodgers To The New York Jets

The Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets rumors absolutely took off this week. Rodgers was linked to the Jets earlier in the month, as the Jets need a veteran quarterback.  The Jets hired former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett this week to run Robert Saleh’s offense. Many Packers fans are mocking the similar headlines from years past, as Rodgers’ name was brought up last year for a trade.

Rodgers could retire, play for the Packers, or ask for a trade.  Due to the lack of a “no trade clause” in Rodgers contract, the trade wouldn’t have to be one Rodgers approves of.  Retirement seems the least likely result for Rodgers next season. He said after the Detroit Lions’ loss in Week 18, he still feels like he can play quarterback at an elite level. So whether Rodgers stays or is traded will likely be decided by the Packers’ choices in free agency.  Recently, two trade packages surfaced for Aaron Rodgers.  Both could be proposed by the New York Jets this off-season.

Multiple Trade Packages Surface For Rodgers To Jets Scenario

In a recent article by Jim Cerny, these two trade scenarios are in play for the Jets to try to lure Aaron Rodgers to New York:

Trade Scenario Number One:

Jets include 2023 first-round pick in trade for Aaron Rodgers. The Packers must ask for at least one first-round pick in any potential deal involving Rodgers, a four-time MVP and one of the greatest QBs of his generation. Whether they get one unconditionally remains to be seen.  Rodgers will turn 40 next December, his play dipped in 2022 and he’s due a ton of money on his contract. He could easily retire after this upcoming season and the Jets would be left with some serious dead money on the salary cap, without their quarterback. For those reasons alone, New York might shy away from including their No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Packers would counter that Rodgers would absolutely be a difference-maker for the Jets and help them reach the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. Remember, the Jets likely would have ended their playoff drought this season if they received even league-average quarterback play.

Trade Scenario Number Two:

Jets include conditional first-round pick in 2024 NFL Draft in trade for Aaron Rodgers. This is the path the Jets most likely would want to take, holding on to the No. 13 overall pick this year and attaching conditions to their first-rounder next season. Those conditions could range from the Jets reaching the playoffs in 2023 or to Rodgers starting a certain number of games or even getting named to the Pro Bowl. And another condition could be Rodgers retiring at the end of next season.

In any of those cases, that first-round pick could become, say, a second-round selection.  This strategy may appeal to the Packers, as well. They will be crushed with a huge dead cap hit in 2023 if they trade Rodgers, so that will impact signing free agents and draft picks. Perhaps they’d prefer to take a first and a second in 2024, along with a second in 2023.

Green Bay also needs another wide receiver. Would Elijah Moore be intriguing? If so, maybe those four assets could land Rodgers and a Day 3 pick in 2024 for the Jets.

Either way the Packers are likely to get at least one first round pick for Aaron Rodgers if they decide to trade him.   Earlier this month, Jets Owner Woody Johnson Says He Will Give Up “Multiple Firsts” For Aaron Rodgers

The Packers will want at least two 1st round picks in a trade for QB Aaron Rodgers, Peter King shares in his column. King adds that Jets owner Woody Johnson would happily pay that price. The question remains if Rodgers even wants to play for NY.