New York Jets New Pro Bowl Quarterback Option Could Leave Packers In Dust

New York Jets linked to a Pro Bowl quarterback

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is worried about trading a valuable price for an asset that was “90 percent” ready to retire weeks after being knocked out of the playoffs by losing to the Detroit Lions at home. His concerns are fair, giving up a second-round pick for an aging Aaron Rodgers whose heart might not be in it midseason is a high risk. A first-round pick next year for what looks like a one-year loaner doesn’t make much sense, either. The Jets have another option on the table if they can’t agree to the Packers’ terms for Rodgers.

The Jets’ absence of a third-round pick in this year’s draft is making negotiations hard for the Packers. The Packers, rightfully so, do not want to give up a four-time MVP quarterback for a fourth-round pick. The two sides are digging in their heels two weeks before the 2023 NFL Draft. And an AFC team looking to shop a quarterback this offseason could swoop in first, keeping Rodgers a Green Bay problem.

Ryan Tannehill to the Jets?

Yahoo Sports NFL insider Charles Robinson was recently a guest on Wilde & Tausch. Robinson said the Jets would have a potential backup option for Rodgers if they couldn’t come to an agreement with the Packers. The Tennessee Titans are rumored to be shopping Ryan Tannehill as they are “exploring” options to acquire the number three overall pick from the Arizona Cardinals to draft a rookie quarterback.

With the Titans looking for trade partners for Tannehill, Robinson said the Jets could get the Pro Bowl quarterback for a fraction of the price they’d have to pay for Rodgers:

“It wouldn’t take the Jets anything to acquire Ryan Tannehill,” Robinson said. “If for some reason [the Packers front office] starts digging in, ‘No forget it, we’re going to hold Aaron Rodgers hostage at this point, we don’t care about getting two second-rounders, potentially a first rounder and a second-rounder, whatever.’

I think at some point, yeah, could the Jets say, ‘Forget this, let’s just move on, we’ll figure something else out.’ [The Jets] don’t want to, they don’t want to at all. But at some point, you get in a scenario where these guys are just absolutely refusing to let this guy go for what the assets are.”

Rodgers is much better than Tannehill

The Jets wouldn’t win in a trade by just getting any quarterback this offseason. Tannehill is not compatible to Rodgers, so the Jets likely won’t rush to trade for the Titans quarterback. The Jets’ moves this spring indicate they’re looking to go all in for a Super Bowl the next few seasons, and Tannehill hasn’t shown he’s elite to get a team that far. However, things could change if a trade isn’t made before the draft.

If the Jets find other quarterback options, the Packers could have two starting quarterbacks on their roster this fall–which isn’t ideal at this point for obvious reasons. If the Packers keep Jordan Love as their starter, the team could keep Rodgers on the roster to trade midseason when a quarterback becomes inevitably injured on a contending team.