The Green Bay Packers are trading an ageing hero to the New York Jets for the second time in 15 years.
The Packers agreed Monday to trade quarterback Aaron Rodgers and their 2023 first-round pick (No. 15) to the Jets in exchange for New York’s 2023 first-round pick (No. 13), a 2023 second-round pick (No. 42), a 2023 sixth-round pick (No. 207), and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that becomes a first if Rodgers plays 65% of the plays this season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Although Hall of Fame quarterback and Jets franchise icon Joe Namath gave Rodgers permission to wear No. 12, a source told Schefter that the new Jets quarterback is expected to wear No. 8 – the number he wore in college at Cal.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was cautious to speak on the deal in detail Monday, but he did say there were a few more things to sort out during his previously scheduled annual pre-draft news conference, which began just after news of the trade terms surfaced. Among these is the fact that Rodgers still needs to get his physical.
Gutekunst stated that completing this agreement before the draught was critical to him.
It wouldn’t have been the end of the world, according to Gutekunst. “But, at the same time, I believe it would have altered things significantly.” So having it done was critical. I just think our football team’s capital for this year was very crucial, if not more valuable than future goods. So there were several causes, but that is why.”
The blockbuster comes 40 days after Rodgers stated on “The Pat McAfee Show” that it was his “intention” to play for the Jets in 2023, sparking intermittent negotiations between the Jets and Packers that dominated NFL headlines.
The two parties talked for weeks before they broke down, and then they talked again late last week. Finally, Jets general manager Joe Douglas and Gutekunst were able to reconcile and reach an agreement.
With Rodgers now in New York, the Jets are likely to become prime-time darlings when the NFL schedule is revealed next month, with the possibility of playing up to six prime-time games, according to Schefter. Last year, they had one, a Thursday night home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.