On Monday, the trade finally happened. News broke that Aaron Rodgers, a four time MVP, would be traded to the New York Jets. It happened.
The saga is over.
The years long Aaron Rodgers’ saga is finally over. He’s going to be a New York Jet.
Rodgers had informed us much earlier in the offseason that he had the intentions to play for the New York Jets in the 2023 season after apparently being 90% in the retirement ballpark. Coming out of the darkness retreat he went on changed things, it seems.
Now, after the trade is officially processed, we’ll see Rodgers wear a different shade of green. He’ll also apparently wear number 8 instead of his 12, which Jets’ legend Joe Namath gave Rodgers permission to wear.
Rodgers wore 8 when he was in college.
Anyway, here is the compensation:
Trade compensation, per sources:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2023
Jets get:
🏈Aaron Rodgers, pick No. 15, a 2023 5th-rd pick (No. 170).
Packers get:
🏈Pick No. 13, a 2023 2nd-rd pick (No. 42), a 6th-rd pick (No. 207), a conditional 2024 2nd-rd pick that becomes a 1st if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the plays. pic.twitter.com/Q2vUMfyZGH
Unless something catastrophic happens, the Green Bay Packers will land a 2nd round pick, 6th round pick, and a 2024 1st round pick in return for Aaron Rodgers. To me, that is excellent value for them. He’s turning 40 years old in 2023, saw his play drop off in 2022, and might only play for one more year. The Jets and Rodgers also had a TON of leverage here, and the Packers still managed to get the return that they did. Outstanding work was done by Packers’ General Manage Brian Gutekunst. Now, the on-field impact from this is worth talking about.
I’m not sure the Jets even win the division in 2023, as they’re easily in the best division in football, but what is apparent is them now being a legitimate playoff team. They still have a first round pick this year and will likely use that to bolster their tackle situation.
They also have a very good stable of pass catchers and a stud running back in Breece Hall. If Nathaniel Hackett and Aaron Rodgers somehow mess this up, it’ll be a massive disappointment.
The Packers will now turn to their Jordan Love era, and there’s just a ton of unknown there. I don’t think Love is going to be very good and I do think Green Bay ends up having a very high pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, perhaps high enough to land a Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.