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It has been almost a month since Aaron Rodgers expressed his intent to play for the Jets.
Since then, the Jets have spoken to the Packers about trading for the 18-year veteran, but a deal has yet to be reached.
Last Friday, during a media event in New York, WFAN’s Boomer Esiason asked Jets general manager Joe Douglas about Aaron Rodgers. Douglas responded, “He’s gonna be here.”
The Jets and Packers would both like to finalize a trade for Rodgers before the NFL Draft, which will be held from April 27 through the 29th. Gang Green wants Rodgers around for its offseason program, while Green Bay wants more draft capital.
So what might a trade for Rodgers look like on both sides?
Ideally, the Packers would want the Jets first-round pick [13th overall] for Rodgers, but that’s unlikely to happen. However, the Jets have two second-round picks that they could give away.
The Jets receive:
Aaron Rodgers
The Packers receive:
2023 second-round pick (No. 42 overall)
2023 fourth-round pick (No. 112 overall)
2024 conditional second-round pick
In 2008, the Jets gave up just a conditional fourth-round pick in a trade for Packers quarterback Brett Favre. They will likely have to give up a bit more to get Rodgers.
A second-round pick for a player one season removed from winning his fourth NFL MVP is not the worst thing in the world. With Gang Green having back-to-back picks in the second round after the Elijah Moore trade, it gives up the 42nd pick to help the Packers build around quarterback Jordan Love.
Then the Jets will also part ways with their fourth-round pick, giving the Packers 12 picks in the 2023 draft. What should put the cherry on top of the ice cream is the Jets conditional pick in the 2024 draft.
If Rodgers plays over 15 games in 2023, the second-round pick will become a first-round pick. If Rodgers, who will be 40 in December, plays less than 15 games, the selection the Packers will receive will remain a second-round pick.
Up to this point, the Jets and Packers are reportedly at a stalemate regarding compensation.
According to a Yahoo Sports report, the Jets have offered the Packers a second-round pick in 2024 that can improve to a first-round pick if they reach the AFC Championship Game during the 2023 season. Also, according to the report, the Jets have asked to give up a conditional 2025 pick to protect themselves if Rodgers retires after next season and doesn’t play at all in 2024.
It would make sense why the Jets would want to protect themselves if Rodgers retires after one year. Rodgers said he went into his darkness retreat 90% retired. But once he found out Green Bay was finally ready to turn to Love after he sat for three seasons after selecting him in the first round of the 2020 draft, Rodgers entertained his options as he later met with Jets brass at his California home in March.
The Jets will also want to rework Rodgers’ contract, which includes $59.5 million in salary in 2023. Currently, the Jets have just a little over $9 million of salary cap space.
Gang Green does have multiple ways of creating more cap space, which includes releasing or trading wide receiver Corey Davis or defensive end Carl Lawson.
Jets and Packers fans have argued on social media about which side has the leverage. In reality, neither side has an advantage over the other.
Despite what the Jets will say in the media, they want to have Rodgers there in time for OTAs [Organized Team Activities] and mandatory minicamp.
Nathaniel Hackett is also the Jets new offensive coordinator and he previously worked with Rodgers in Green Bay. What better way to teach the Jets players the new offense than to have Rodgers himself working with the players in May and June?
The Packers also want to turn the page as they don’t want the Rodgers trade cloud hovering over their franchise during and after the draft.
Giving the Packers a 2023 second and fourth-round pick and a conditional second-round pick in 2024 is the fairest exchange for both sides.
