After several weeks of waiting and endless headlines, a deal has been agreed upon for Aaron Rodgers to join the New York Jets. General manager Brian Gutekunst talked about the trade during his press conference Monday. Gutekunst made references to what disappointed him about the trade and what he’s looking forward to next season.
The Green Bay Packers struck an agreement in time to move up two positions in Thursday’s first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They also added a pick in the second round on Friday. It seems like a fair compromise for a team that needed to ship of an expensive and aging quarterback in a rebuilding offseason.
The Packers’ knew they couldn’t get everything they wanted for Rodgers. It was reported the Packers wanted a first-round pick or two second-round selections. They wound up getting a first-round swap, a second-round pick, and a conditional first-round pick in 2024. That’s three solid picks for a team that needs to find starters in the draft instead of free agency.
(The condition is that Rodgers plays more than 65 percent of the Jets’ offensive snaps next season.) Gutekunst should be happy with what the Packers got out of the trade, especially considering they will have the opportunity to adjust cap space.
Brian Gutekunst talks about the trade
However, Gutekunst related one non-material part of the trade that had him dispirited. According to Zach Jacobson with CBS Sports, Gutekunst said it was “a little disappointing” he could not talk to Rodgers about the transfer. Gutekunst said he was excited about where Jordan Love could lead the team. Gutekinst added a phrase that could sting for Rodgers, as he said sitting Love behind Rodgers in 2023 “would’ve delayed where [the Packers] going and what we’re trying to build.”
One way to read that: Rodgers was not trending in the direction that the Packers management wanted to go with the team.
Not being able to discuss the matter with Aaron Rodgers was “a little disappointing for me,” says Brian Gutekunst. “But we’re really excited where Jordan Love can go. He needs to play. Having him sit another year would’ve delayed where we’re going and what we’re trying to build.”
— zach jacobson (@itszacharyj) April 24, 2023
Aaron Rodgers was a special player
According to Jacobson, Gutekunst did offer some praise for the outgoing four-time NFL MVP and, more importantly, an iconic member of the Packers franchise that led the team to a victory in Super Bowl XLV:
“[Aaron Rodgers] will always be a Packer. He’ll be one of the best to have ever done it around here. I have a lot of respect for how he went about it and he’ll be missed, there’s no doubt about it. Players like that don’t come around very often.”
Brian Gutekunst: “[Aaron Rodgers] will always be a Packer. He’ll be one of the best to have ever done it around here. I have a lot of respect for how he went about it and he’ll be missed, there’s no doubt about it. Players like that don’t come around very often.”
— zach jacobson (@itszacharyj) April 24, 2023
Players like Rodgers are hard to find. And they’re harder to keep; impossibly so, forever. The fact that Rodgers has been with the Packers for so many seasons shows the loyalty both parties had for each other. But it was time for Rodgers to seek adventure elsewhere and for the Packers to rebuild a team that could compete for another Super Bowl. Gutekunst made it clear that wouldn’t ever happen again for the Packers with Rodgers.
As the NFL world reacts to the surprising trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, Brian Gutekunst, the Packers’ General Manager, shares his mixed feelings. Dive deeper into this development and more on our Aaron Rodgers News page. Stay tuned for more updates!
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