The New York Jets and Green Bay Packers front offices have entered the draft week with no Aaron Rodgers trade deal completed. The NFL is betting on a deal happening this offseason. The two teams have a soft deadline to get the deal done by the time the number 42 overall pick in the draft comes around, which is owned by the Jets. Because of the complications involving Rodgers’ contract, it’s likely necessary that the trade would happen earlier than the draft.
"This is the time that an Aaron Rodgers deal to the Jets should get done..
I wouldn't say they're close but it does seem like it's gonna be able to get worked out"@RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/NZkpcRMntg
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 24, 2023
While the Aaron Rodgers trade would affect the Jets and Packers’ draft strategy for this year, Rodgers’ designation this season will change much more for the league.
The NFL needs the Aaron Rodgers trade to go through
Mike North, who is the NFL’s vice president of broadcast planning, was a guest recently on the Audacy’s Podcast It’s Always Gameday In Buffalo. North said the NFL schedule makers are preparing as if Rodgers will be the Jets’ quarterback this fall.
The Jets have several games that could be prime-time watches next season. The Jets will play two AFC East rivals who made the playoffs last season with the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills twice next season. At home, they will play the 2022 Super Bowl participants, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. Other interesting games include the New York Giants (away), Dallas Cowboys (away), and Los Angeles Chargers (home).
North said the schedule the NFL has put together so far had been made under the assumption that Rodgers plays in New York. So the Jets will have some prime-time games for next season. However, North said the NFL would “hedge” a little if the Jets and Packers aren’t able to finalize a deal before the completion of the draft:
“I mean if Aaron Rodgers is their quarterback we’re going to do something with those games. If Aaron Rodgers isn’t the quarterback of the Jets we’re going to do something with those games but maybe not as much.
As we sit here today on April 18th, yeah, we’re assuming, for now, that he’s going to be the quarterback of the Jets and the schedule reflects that,” North continued. “If we get through the draft and there’s any kind of indication that it may not happen, we might hedge a little bit and kind of shift some of our focus – not entirely. It won’t necessarily be a start from scratch, but it might be a pullback just a little.”
What does the Packers’ schedule look like?
One wonders what the schedule makers are plotting to do with the Packers this season. Rodgers drew a ton of eyeballs while he was the starter in Green Bay because of his fantastic arm. A rebuilding Packers team might not draw the same national interest to watch Jordan Love working with the cheapest pass-catching units in the league. But if the trade doesn’t go through, the drama in Green Bay might be the biggest storyline during the regular season.
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