After the dust settles, the bulk of free agency ends and the compensation is agreed to, Aaron Rodgers will likely become a New York Jet, wearing a different shade of green that he’s worn for his career in the NFL.
This move was likely seen coming by many people as the Green Bay Packers organization seemed set on moving on from Rodgers at the end of this season, especially with the Packers finishing with a losing record and missing the playoffs.
Rodgers had the worst statistical season of his career, and many thought he’d lost a step. Well, there are others, likely including the Jets who don’t think that.
The Jets seemed to begin their preparation for the four time MVP’s arrival when they hired Nathaniel Hackett to be their new offensive coordinator. I had thought this was a bad hiring at the time because of Hackett’s lack of success as a play-caller and a absolute disaster of a tenure as the head coach of the Denver Broncos.
However, it’s clear to me at least that the hiring of Hackett was a ploy to fully convince Rodgers to want to come to the New York Jets.
How does Aaron Rodgers impact the AFC?
Well, I think Aaron Rodgers is still an elite quarterback and probably has another couple of solid years in him. This is clearly an all-in type of move from New York, so I’d expect this team to hit the ground running in 2023.
This also makes the already good AFC East even more crowded. I’m not so sure that the Buffalo Bills should be considered the favorites in the division. With the moves that the Miami Dolphins have made this offseason as well, I think Buffalo has a run for their money, and I think any of the Jets, Bills, or Dolphins could easily win the division.
The New England Patriots are the biggest losers so far, as their most impressive acquisition this offseason thus far has been signing JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Unless New England has a sneaky move up their sleeve, they are a distant fourth in the loaded AFC East, which will soon see the arrival of Aaron Rodgers.