Finally, after weeks of waiting, the Jets have landed their giant whale.
After starting three different quarterbacks last season, the Jets have landed arguably the biggest quarterback since Joe Namath started under center from 1965-1976.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been traded to the Jets, according to sources. The Jets will receive Rodgers, the Packers 2023 No. 15 pick, and a 2023 fifth-round pick in the deal, according to ESPN. In return, the Packers will get the Jets’ 2023 13th overall pick, a 2023 second-round pick (No. 42), a 2023 sixth-round pick (No. 207) and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that will become a first-round pick if Rodgers plays 65% of the Jets snaps next season.
In February, Rodgers spent days on a darkness retreat in southern Oregon contemplating his NFL future as there was speculation he might be traded. On March 8, Jets owner Woody Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas, coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett traveled to California to meet with Rodgers after receiving permission from the Packers. ESPN reported later that week the Jets were optimistic about landing Rodgers in a trade with the Packers.
Last month on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers said he intended to play for the Jets after the team was ready to move on to Jordan Love, who they selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. As he sat behind Rodgers for three seasons, Green Bay coaches, players and its front office have continued to voice their belief in Love. Rodgers said he was 90% committed to retiring before going on his darkness retreat but had a change of heart once he found out the Packers were planning to move on to Love without his knowledge.
Weeks later, at the NFL annual meetings in Phoenix, Douglas and Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst reportedly spoke to each other about a trade for Rodgers. But the two sides were at a standstill regarding compensation. Talks reportedly began happening between the Jets and Packers late last week, with a trade being officially made on Monday.
Gutekunst said the trade for Rodgers is not finalized. It’s expected that the Jets and Rodgers will restructure his contract prior to making the trade official. The quarterback likely still has to pass his physical, but all parties are hoping that changes during the next couple of days leading up to the draft.
Rodgers is scheduled to make $59.5 million guaranteed from a three-year, $150 million contract extension he signed last year. He is scheduled to account for $31.62 million against the cap for 2023.
“Aaron is obviously up there in age,” Gutekunst said in a pre-draft press conference on Monday. “I think he’s got some really good football left in him.
“I think for us, as we got through the offseason and started talking about where we wanted to go. This made a little bit of sense for us. We are really excited about where Jordan can go. He needs to play and as we got through the offseason, this made sense. Having him [Love] sit another year would’ve really delayed [his development].”
Although Namath gave him his blessing to wear his retired No. 12 jersey, Rodgers is expected to wear No. 8 for the Jets. That was the same number he wore while in college at Cal.
In 2008, the Jets traded for Packers quarterback and future Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre with the hopes of transforming into a Super Bowl contender as they were ready to turn to a young Rodgers after he sat for three seasons. 15 years later, history has repeated itself as Gang Green once again trades for another Green Bay legendary quarterback.
After starting for the last 15 seasons in Green Bay, Rodgers has thrown for 59,055 yards, 475 touchdowns and 105 interceptions while having a career quarterback rating of 103.6 as he led the Packers to a Super Bowl win in 2010.
During his historic career, Rodgers has won four NFL MVP awards (2011, 2014, 2020-21), been named to five All-Pro teams, and 10 Pro Bowls while throwing for over 4,000 yards 10 times. The Jets have never had an MVP winner at the quarterback position in their 63-season history. The Jets have had only had one quarterback (Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2015) throw for at least 30 touchdowns in a season.
“We’re anxious,” Johnson said at the annual meetings about trading for Rodgers. “I guess as we look forward, we’re optimistic.
“But we have a plan, so we’re willing to stick with our plan and I don’t think anybody is hyperventilating at this point.”
Adding Rodgers to the Jets is a game-changing moment in the franchise’s history. He brings creditability to the Jets, something the organization has lacked for 12 seasons as they have the longest current postseason drought (2010) in the NFL.
Rodgers isn’t far removed from winning two consecutive MVP Awards. In the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Rodgers threw for a combined 8,414 yards, 85 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Hackett, who replaced Mike LaFleur as the Jets new offensive coordinator, was Rodgers’ offensive coordinator with the Packers from 2019-21, as they won 13 games each of those three seasons.
Last season was a down year for Rodgers as he dealt with a broken thumb and injuries to his ribs during a season where the Packers finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018. He passed for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, which was the most he’s thrown since 2010.
As he recovers from his injuries, Rodgers will join a Jets team that feels ready to contend in the AFC in 2023 with the Chiefs, who won their second Super Bowl in four years in February and the Bengals, who played in their second straight AFC Championship. The Jets will also have to deal with an improving AFC East as the Bills won the division for the third consecutive season and the Dolphins, who made the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016.
Last year, the Jets defense finished fourth in the league in total defense (311.1 yards per game) and points allowed (18.6).
However, the Jets have lacked consistency at the quarterback position. At the beginning of last season, Saleh continued to back 2021 second-overall pick Zach Wilson as he said he would take receipts on all the people who continually mock the team.
But halfway through the year, Saleh benched Wilson after poor play and for lack of accountability following a 10-3 November loss to the Patriots. In that game, Wilson completed 9-of-22 passes for 77 yards as he said he didn’t take any responsibility for the loss.
Gang Green also started Mike White and Joe Flacco at different points throughout the 2022 season. But the Jets finished 25th in total offense (318.2 yards per game) and 29th in points scored (17.4).
After a 7-4 start entering December, the Jets lost six consecutive games to end the season as they missed the playoffs for the 12th consecutive year. Amid that stretch, the Jets failed to score a touchdown in their final three games.
Now Rodgers will try to improve the Jets offense with a supporting cast including wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who won the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Gang Green also added former Packers receiver Allen Lazard and former Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman to a unit with veteran Corey Davis and Denzel Mims still on the roster.
Also, the Jets are expected to have running back Breece Hall return in time for the start of the regular season. Hall tore his ACL last October in a victory at Denver, as he missed the rest of the year.
