MARCH 28: Providing the latest update on the matter of compensation, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports that talks are now centered on the possibility of New York sending a second-round pick in 2023 and ’24 to Green Bay. The latter selection would be conditional, and have the potential to become a first-rounder depending on the Jets’ success with Rodgers at the helm.
With the 39-year-old admitting that retirement was a strong consideration following this past season, however, the Jets remain hesitant to sign off on 2024 compensation without assurances Rodgers will continue his career that long. As a result, Robinson notes that New York is seeking 2025 draft capital from the Packers in the event Rodgers does indeed retire after next season, to help protect against the lost draft pick in 2024. Progress made within this new framework will help determine if/when this deal gets over the finish line.
MARCH 27: The Jets and Packers remain engaged in trade talks on Aaron Rodgers; this week’s league meetings will allow for additional time for the sides to produce a resolution. While Douglas said Monday no timetable is in place, the Jets GM acknowledged progress has occurred.
Another Jets transaction may have changed the Rodgers talks. In trading Elijah Moore, the Jets obtained an additional second-round pick (No. 43 overall) from the Browns. They are willing to give up that pick for Rodgers, Armando Salguero of Outkick.com notes, but have thus far refused to part with their first-rounder (No. 13 overall). The Packers want a first-rounder in this trade.
Gang Green is also likely prepared to part with a conditional draft asset down the road, Salguero adds. That choice’s value could be a sticking point as well. When asked about parting with the No. 13 pick in this deal, Douglas did not shoot down that prospect, nor did he address which picks have been discussed. But the veteran Jets GM said that selection will give the team a chance to “bring in a strong player,” while confirming (via The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt) the Jets and Packers’ talks are not where they need to be yet.
Fifteen years ago, the Jets sent the Packers a conditional draft choice — which ended up a 2009 third-rounder — for Brett Favre. The Packers are positioned to land more for Rodgers, who made it clear he is ready to join the Jets. The Packers are moving forward with Jordan Love, but they want better draft capital than the Jets have offered. They also want “cap-related concessions” in this deal, Salguero adds.
It would cost the Packers just more than $40MM to trade Rodgers before June 1. While that dead-money number drops considerably (to $15.8MM) on a deal after that date, the Packers look to be targeting more than just draft capital from the Jets, who would — absent any contract maneuvering — have Rodgers on their 2023 cap sheet at barely $15MM in 2023. The Jets are, assuming they finish this trade, prepared to pay Rodgers’ roughly $59MM bonus negotiated into his three-year, $150.8MM extension agreed to last March.
Leverage in the form of a Lamar Jackson pursuit could have been an option for the Jets, but Douglas joined the host of teams preparing to stand down on the Ravens’ disgruntled quarterback. Praising Jackson but not wanting to negotiate with the Packers in bad faith, as they are far down the Rodgers road, Douglas said (via the New York Post’s Brian Costello) the Jets will not pursue him. Hit with the franchise tag, Jackson has requested a trade.
Jackson would likely have been a Jets consideration had he requested a trade in January or February, SNY’s Connor Hughes adds (video link). The team met with Derek Carr, but its Rodgers meeting took place a day after Carr signed with the Saints. It would seem the Jets could still pivot to Jackson, though the former MVP would cost far more in a trade and require a monster extension. But they are pot-committed to Rodgers at this point. That represents good news for the Packers. While Green Bay is certainly taking a risk with its Rodgers-to-Love transition, the team is set to collect a premium draft choice for a player no longer in its plans.
Jets willing to exchange bag of subway tokens for AR12.
Uhhh, the subway hasn’t used tokens in 20 years (and the MTA is starting to phase out the MetroCard).
ok then ALL the bags of subway tokens?
Lmao
I really think the jets should go pound sound.
A 2nd 4th and 6th is more then enough.
The 2nd is truely more then enough. He ain’t playing for Green Bay. That’s clear.
But the jets open themselves up to this for even dealing with that clown rodgers.
Pound Sound – Decent band name, better headphones name.
Still better than the OVERRATED and OVERPAID Cousins.
All those signings for Rodgers. Pack have the Jets over a barrel.
Exactly, AR’s contract is already under budget. Besides, the Jets have gone out of their way to appease him and his wish list. Ball is in their court. They’ll look like fools for not getting the owner his QB.
Well, yes and no. At this point do you think there’s any chance in Hades the cheeseheads want him back? They’re already in dire cap straits. People are selling the Jets way too short on this. They have more bargaining power than you think.
Jets have showed their cards for AR. It’s on them to make the trade.
Under budget at over $50m/yr with obvious declines in his play last year, lol good luck dying on that hill.
It’s not your budget. And yes, he’ll be paid by either team. Jets need to step up.
His deal is 31M this season. Yeah I’d say that’s under market. 40M next season. Also pretty under market. So the argument is that 55M/AAV the last two years is the reason to not do the deal? Okay, bud.
Also the final two years are team options which are not guaranteed. This contract was essentially a 3yr/$150MM deal which was stretched out to 5 years for salary cap purposes.
He’s only on the books for $31MM this season which jumps up to $40MM if traded. Otherwise he’s only on the books for $15MM this year if the trade takes place after June 1st and just under $25MM for 2024. I don’t think the Packers will be too crippled by keeping Rodgers for the entire season unless Rodgers is willing to ride the bench this season and waste one of the final years of his career.
I think he’ll retire before coming back to be Jordan Love’s back up.
Nope. There’s no other takers for Rodgers. His contract is too rich and he’s too close to the end of his career and his decline has started. The Packers would have to accept a hot dog and a coke for Aaron Rodgers if that’s all the Jets offer. Fortunately for the Packers the Jets are willing to put a second on the table.
The Jets don’t have to do anything. They can hire whomever they want, they can draft another quarterback. The pieces they’ve brought in will work with any QB or can be cut.
The Jets haven’t won in your lifetime. Enough said. Same for mine, I’m 50 in May.
If the Packers don’t get what they want for Rodgers, the Jets don’t get him. The Jets have made their bed in typical Jets fashion, and now the Packers can (and should) take advantage. If they don’t trade him, he’ll retire (after the Packers bench him and he doesn’t show up to work), then the Packers at least save all the money.
That’s the beauty. Aaron isn’t going to retire. The contract is brilliantly written and either the Packers trade Rodgers or they pay him to $60 million year to sit on the bench this year and $30 million in dead money. Or cut him and pay out the guarantees right now. Even if the Packers trade Aaron Rodgers the Packers still owe $40 million in dead money. It’s complicated but the Packers are completely hosed without a trade:
Just be glad someone wants Aaron Rodgers on those terms, Packers fan and take your bubble gum and player card in exchange from the Jets and say thank you.
My point is that if the Packers don’t trade him, and they relegate him to the bench, there’s no chance that he shows up, in which case they suspend him and save the money. This isn’t a normal human being we’re talking about.
Aaron will show up to collect his $150 million even if it means sitting. There’s no way Packers management can sit him, there’s no way Packers management can force him to retire. Packers management would have to cut him, big cap hit this year and even next. Aaron holds all the cards. The Jets get what they want (Aaron Rodgers cut, with no draft pick and flexibility to write their own more reasonable contract), if the Jets just play it cool.
The party with the least leverage here and who is on the clock are the Packers. No matter what happens Aaron gets paid. No matter what happens, someone will play QB for the Jets, this year, probably Aaron Rodgers.
The Packers lose a huge amount of cap space for two, three, four years depending on how they play the situation. Whoever signed that extension should probably be reconsidering their career in professional sports management.
But if he sits, he can still go on with Pat McAfee every week to whine & complain about something, right?
I think the only part of your argument which is inaccurate is that Packers management cannot sit him. By owning his rights they can most definitely sit him and even play Etling over him in the event Love got injured. As long as they pay his salary and he’s under contract they can most definitely keep him on the bench and running the scout team at practices.
Again, they are not obligated to play him just because they are paying him and management is well aware most Packers fans are ready to move on without him.
This provides them with zero incentive to move him without receiving fair value. Also Rodgers is willing to restructure his contract to make this trade palatable for all parties. This tells me he’s willing to give up guaranteed money to start elsewhere.
You mean the day Rodgers cap hit if traded drops from $31MM down to $15MM? Sure, if the Jets holdout until June 2nd I’m sure the Packers will be devastated by adding $16MM in cap space.
Read the contract. The additional cap hit from the trade just moves to 2024.
Have fun Packers fans paying $50-60 million/year to sit down multiple-year league MVP Aaron Rodgers. Talk about how to mismanage a franchise.
So spreading out the $59MM option bonus is a bad thing? The salaries for both 2024 and 2025 aren’t guaranteed. Only his salaries this season and the next. His contract was basically a three year, $150MM deal with two “option years” to stretch out the guaranteed money.
So spreading out the $59MM option bonus is a bad thing? The salaries for both 2024 and 2025 aren’t guaranteed. Only his salaries this season and the next. His contract was basically a three year, $150MM deal with two “option years” to stretch out the guaranteed money. If the Packers trade Rodgers before week 1 they won’t have to exercise the option bonus which will be the responsibility of the Jets.
link to cbssports.com
Here’s a good article that explains how this complex contract is set up.
This has got to be one of the worst takes out there. They can draft another rookie? That’s the solution.
I’m sure the Packers are saying goooooo ahead with that. Neither team has leverage. Each has something the other wants and no other trade partner as of today. Bringing in a bunch of players and then saying “oh it’s fine if they’re not good” is literally contradictory.
Packers fans forget that the Jets don’t have to make the playoffs in 2023. Making progress with a young QB and saving the cap to keep the team together would be fine for the Jets. Packers on the other hand, have a salary camp bomb exploding in the middle of their next four seasons if they do nothing.
Wonder what you can get for Jordan Love? He’s coming off of his rookie contract after 2023 and no one knows if he’s any good. Do the Packers draft a new Aaron Rodgers replacement this year or next if the trade doesn’t go through?
Cowboy fans would trade dak for Jordan Love in a heartbeat. Makes too much for a mediocre qb
Not a Packers fan but…yeah, the Jets do need to make the playoffs in 2023. You don’t make the moves they did and then say “we can wait another year”. Wilson has regressed, not progressed so that’s an idly goofy take.
The Packers regardless can just sit there and start the guy they’re going to start. 31M in 2023 with an opt out of 24M if they don’t want to hang onto him. They’re really not over a barrel like people keep claiming. The Jets literally have most of the pieces they need to be good, except a QB. That’s not a place you want to be in. But keep bringing up more false narratives to be debunked.
Until they tell the Packers to pound sand and move on. The Jets play their cards right they aren’t over a barrel
….and run out zach Wilson to turn the ball over again and again? Yeah, that’s not going to get tiring to watch for Jets fans who had to watch below average QB play tank their 2022 season.
As someone else pointed out, Matt Ryan is available right now. There’s some other adequate options on the used market. The Jets don’t need Aaron Rodgers but the Packers need to clear their roster and get back the $150 million sitting Aaron Rodgers (unless the Packers cut him after 2023 when it will be $41 million dead money).
Vikings should go after Lamar then give the jets cousin’s for a late round pick.
Locking up all that cap room plus multiple first round picks for a QB coming off a serious knee injury is iffy to begin with let alone one who’s so reliant on his legs for success (I’m not saying he’s only a runner just that his running opens things up for his passing). I just don’t see anyone taking a risk on Lamar unless the Ravens are giving him away which I doubt they will.
I’m a Viking fan, hell no. Wrap all that capital in someone who can’t stay on the field?
Why would the jets have any interest in cousins? So they can make the playoffs and then be one and done? What good does that do them? You far overestimate his value….much like Minnesota did when they gave him that contract.
These two organizations are meant for each other. No matter the outcome, Rodgers will fit right in. What a circus.
I think Sam meant “post-committed” instead of “pot-committed” with regard to Aaron Rodgers. Anyway, I’d think Ayahuasca would be more appropriate than pot in this case.
No, its a poker term. He used it correctly.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the phrase — and it seems like that might be the case — “pot-committed” is a poker term. It’s when you’re playing a hand and have so much invested that you can’t bring yourself to fold (even if your odds have become terrible). At that point, you pretty much just have to see it through and hope you have some incredible luck.
Perhaps the luck element isn’t an exact match here, but the Jets do have to stay at the table now and try to bluff their way through this round.
(If your comment was just for humor, though, please disregard this!)
I think the following is a fair trade. A 2nd this year and a conditional 2nd next year that could become a 1st if the Jets reach the AFC title game. The Packers have to dump Rodgers to move onto Love and the Jets have virtually no fallback options.
The second they’re offering is enough. Take it or leave it Packers. They don’t want him nor to pay him. They have no real negotiation power here.
The Jets can walk away and still have a strong enough team to push for playoffs. Packers really don’t
The packers have ALL the cards here. They can afford his cap hit this year easily and have money to sign a WR and draft class and roll with Rodgers one more time and do this all again next season.
By the way, that pick the Jets sent to Pack into 2009 was packaged in a trade to get back into the first round to get Clay Matthews. The player taken with the actual pick from the Jets that ultimately went to the Patriots was Brandon Tate.
What an amusing situation for everyone who isn’t a Jets fan. A 2nd round pick was never going to get this done. Especially now that Jets are backed in a corner with no other options. Jets GM really just seems incompetent. Seems to me GB would rather Rogers simply retire, having never worn another uniform, rather than just giving him away. I don’t blame them. It isn’t their job to make the Jets better.
You’re right, CincySnapper. I was amazed at the comments from Jets fans thinking they had GB over a barrel without acknowledging their team was spending big bucks on popcorn before checking to see if there were any seats available for the movie.
As a Vikings fan I’m hoping they get stuck holding onto Rodgers, even if he does play 2 more seasons. The less the Packers get for their retooling the better, the longer they have to deal with the distraction the better, the longer they miss out on finding out whether Love can play the better. I think both teams are in a desperate position.
Couldn’t the Jets look at Will Levis? I think the draft presents solid options away from AR.
Lmfao Rodgers isn’t even worth a 2nd rounder, let alone a first. If you’re going to spend that capital you might as well engage the Ravens for Jackson. (Though Jackson isnt much better)Better allocation of assets.
The saga without an end. How long has this been going on, 10 years now??
WTH is “pot-committed”?? That some sort of Yankee speak?
I hear Philip Rivers still wants to play…
Pretty sure they were always agreeable to the second round pick. Even more so now after the Moore trade with CLE netted them another 2nd rd pick.
All the Jets have to do is wait until June 2nd. Nobody else wants Rodgers, the Pack have to flinch first if they don’t want to pay him. It’s a 2nd round pick or nothing.
The Packers would be ecstatic if the Jets waiting until June 2nd to make this trade. By waiting until June 2nd, they can now spread out his dead cap hit over two additional seasons and still make the Jets exercise the $59MM option bonus. This frees up $15MM in cap space and gets them more draft capital for the 2024 draft.
Packer Propaganda
Green Bay you need to hold out for the #13 pick. they all but promised their fans Aaron Rodgers this off-season. Green Bay may want to get that cap hit off the books but they hold all the leverage in this situation.
If I’m the Packers GM it’s flat out the #13 this season, OR a 2nd this yr and a conditional 2nd in 2024. if he starts 75% of the gms or if they make the playoffs it automatically becomes next yrs 1st from the Jets.
Not sure why anyone thinks Green Bay holds the cards on this. The Jets still have the same QB they used this year and/or can still trade for someone else (Jackson?) or sign an also-ran (Wentz, Bridgewater) if the Rodgers thing falls through. The Packers, on the other hand, are still stuck with a 5-8 win roster and will simply have to eat Rodgers’ massive salary until he decides to retire (and will do so without any acquired Jets picks). And since Brian Gutekunst seems to have the drafting skills of Matt Millen the future looks pretty bleak.
The Jets drafted Zach Wilson, Sam Darnold and Christian Hackenberg yet you’re questioning Gutekunst’s drafting skills?
One has nothing to do with the other. Look at the facts of Gutekunst’s efforts:
2022 – One good pick – Christian Watson (out of 11)
2021 – No good picks (out of 9)
2020 – Runyan/ Dillon (2 out of 9)
2019 – (3 out of 9 – all 1st/2nd round choices.
Need I say more? The guy is now better than you or I…
What’s your definition of a “good pick”?
Because I think your missing the following picks:
2021 – Walker, Doubs and Tom all played well as rookies.
2020 – Stokes, Myers, Newman and Slaton have all been solid contributors in their first two seasons.
2019 – Dillon, Runyon and Love all are going to be starters in 2023 and Deguara will continue to get plenty of snaps on offense.
2018 – This was Gary, Savage and Jenkins. Two pro bowlers and a 4 year starter isn’t a bad draft
Sorry had my years all off by one.
Half the guys mentioned as being “good” or “played well” have never made a pro bowl, first or second team all pro.
Gute has been awful in drafting. Dillon isn’t even a good pick. The guy runs straight into the blocker and can barely get 3rd/4th and short first downs.
Imagine drafting guys in 2019 and being excited they’ll be starting 4 years later as their rookie deals expire and become more expensive.
The 2019 draft as an abject disaster.
I didn’t realize draft picks were all considered busts if they are not pro bowlers. Based on your rating system, 80% of all draft picks are considered busts because they have never made a pro bowl.
Personally, I view any player who regularly gets quality snaps in games a solid draft pick. Any player who becomes a long term starter should be considered a solid pick. Please tell me if my assessment is off.
We are talking about a top 5 pick though. You don’t want a top 5 pick to “just” get quality snaps. You want a top 5 pick to be an impact player.
AJ Hawk picked top 5 overall was a “solid” player with quality snaps zero pro bowl, zero all pros.
Devin White drafted 5th overall has made a 2nd team all pro and a pro bowl in just 4 years.
Comparing one to the other Hawk was a bust despite Hawk having a long career of being “solid”.
The talk about QB is even harsher if you don’t end up starting and doing well you are considered a bust. Sam Bradford comes to mind. He had some quality snaps and starts in his career but is still a bust.
Lance could be on pace for a similar path, but as I said I think it’s early for that.
Also, there is a separate argument to be made that first round picks that most HOFers end up being picked round 1 on average. Same goes for pro bowl and all pros. Then it focuses even more with most of those in the first round that the top 1p produces more HOF, pro bowls, and all pros than others.
So the expectations and hopes are much higher for Lance than let’s say Kenny Pickett for example.
He’ll get traded post June 1 for a 24 first rounder
I’ll reiterate the idea I’ve proposed previously. The Jets should offer their own pre-Moore-trade second rounder, a conditional 2024 pick, and Corey Davis for Aaron Rodgers. The 2024 pick should start as a fourth rounder if the Jets finish 2023 under .500. It would rise to a third rounder if they finish at .500 or better. It would become a second if they make the playoffs. It would become a first if they win the Super Bowl.
Massive overpay
The Jets have like zero bargaining chips… Do you want Wilson as your quarterback… Or a Hall of Famer that could bring you to the Super Bowl? If I’m a Jets fan I’m saying give up two or three first round draft picks…
Take Jackson… He’s already proven he’s not a winner… Go watch any postseason game and see how bad he plays
How confident are the Jets that Rodgers won’t “pull a Favre,” played a year in Jersey and then use the threat of retirement as a ploy to get where wants to play — Minnesota.
This Minnesota thing keeps popping up but I see no reason why the Vikings would be interested in an expensive one year rental when there is so much work to be done on the defensive side of the ball.
Cart before the horse. All the signings and moves to appease something that hasn’t been procured. Furthermore, if for any reason they don’t proceed forward, how do they recover from missing out on other QBs and players they probably wouldn’t have signed if they went a different direction. And while they’ll cave if they have to in order to get AR, I’m not sure this is all worthwhile for a 39 year old egotistical player that may not extend beyond the 2023 season. One year isn’t justification enough for all of the circus activities that are going on.
I would take two second picks. Sounds good to me. Jets get their guy. Packers get some good value for the trade.
They could package up those two picks and move up in the first round–that’s similar to what the Packers did in Favre trade. Moved up and drafted Clay Matthews.
I’m not going to try and argue which team has or doesn’t have the leverage, how much they have or don’t have, or why…it just seems like BOTH sides are actively trying to take away their own bargaining power each time they open their mouth.
Miami needs Rodgers . they haven’t had an elite QB since Marino. Tua is not elite and is injury prone and he should the entire season to heal properly. I think Rodgers would jump at the chance to run Miami’s Offense he would actually have good Wide outs .