These Jets-Packers talks dragging into April should not exactly surprise. Since Aaron Rodgers‘ 2021 trade request became public, lengthy sagas featuring drawn-out announcements have become standard for the future Hall of Famer. After Rodgers’ latest delay, he is not believed to be the holdup here.
Brian Gutekunst said Tuesday a first-round pick does not need to be part of this trade, though it was believed the veteran Green Bay GM was targeting New York’s No. 13 overall at earlier points during these negotiations. While Gutekunst’s comment about trade compensation could be viewed as a signal that pick is off the table, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes it still could take multiple high picks for the Jets to complete this deal.
The view around the league points to the Packers targeting two high picks — one potentially the second-rounder the Jets obtained in the Elijah Moore trade (No. 43 overall) — with the second being a conditional choice that hinges on Rodgers’ performance and decision on the 2024 season. As could be expected, Rodgers’ 2024 status is a major issue for the Jets, Fowler adds. Rodgers said back in the late 2010s he wanted to play into his 40s but has since walked that back a bit, leading to this offseason’s extended, darkness-enhanced retirement deliberation. Rodgers, 39, said he was 90% retired when he began the darkness retreat earlier this month.
The Jets have expressed concerns to the Packers about overpaying for a player who plans to play only one more year. While that would not seem to matter much to the Pack anymore, the Jets’ worries about Rodgers being a one-and-done for them — as Brett Favre was 15 years ago — are worth monitoring. It would seem unlikely Rodgers will provide an early guarantee he will play in 2024, but the trade value the Pack extract from the Jets will be telling as to the AFC team’s belief in how much longer the four-time MVP plans to play.
Most of this deal is completed, per Fowler, due to the legwork the teams did in recent weeks. Neither team is believed to be in a rush here, with on-field football work not beginning until May — and that is if Rodgers shows for OTAs, which he has not done since 2019 — but Albert Breer of SI.com notes a deal crossing the goal line this week is not out of the question. The Packers backing off their first-round pick pursuit would stand to expedite an agreement, and Breer adds the trade will be completed before the draft.
Every exec surveyed at this week’s league meetings expects the trade to happen, and Jets GM Joe Douglas refusing to use a potential Lamar Jackson pursuit as leverage is somewhat indicative he believes this deal is close. Then again, no team has made it known it will pursue Jackson. But two teams’ quarterback situations are on track to be solidified soon, with Rodgers supplanting Zach Wilson and Love following the Rodgers path by taking over as QB1 ahead of his fourth season.
The Jets were interested in re-signing Mike White, but he is now with the Dolphins. A setup in which Rodgers and another notable veteran joined Wilson in the Jets’ quarterback room seemed like wishful thinking, and Robert Saleh confirmed this week Wilson — his stock’s freefall notwithstanding — is set to be the Jets’ second-stringer. The former No. 2 overall pick spent last season in all three positions on the Jets’ depth chart; he will land in the middle once the Rodgers dust settles. Chris Streveler is the only other QB on the Jets’ roster.
The Jets would be mad to give more than a single second round pick for a player who will either play one more season, or slowly fade out like Brady. With that $50 odd million/year extension the hit on the salary cap makes giving away a lot of draft picks to take on that contract even less attractive.
Greedy Packers waited to long to trade Aaron Rodgers. Should have traded him before signing the next extension.
So they should have traded him after he won an MVP?
Yes, if the Packers wanted high trade value they should have traded Rodgers right after the MVP and the quick playoff exit (as usual). The Packers knew better than anyone Aaron’s physical and mental state and where things are going in the next few years. You cash out your trade players when they are on top and not when they are on the way down.
If Packers management doesn’t know how to manage a roster and trade way high cap players on time, they only had to ask Hoodie.
Jets can just move on and make other plans. The Packers will probably have to release Rodgers if no one will trade for him. The Packers have already pencilled in Jordan Love and the players surrounding him. To get there, the Packers need the cap money tied up in Aaron Rodgers this year, especially next year and even the year after.
I still don’t think Rodgers will ride the bench for more than one year before hanging it up or taking a huge pay cut in order to facilitate a trade to a team of his choosing.
Speaking of pay cuts, I think the key to making this trade happen will be his willingness to restructure his contract to allow the Jets to feel comfortable in sending the future conditional pick the Packers are asking for.
Many of us Packer fans still remember the Lynn Dickey/Randy Wright dog days and know we’ve been playing with house money for quite awhile.
how are the packers greedy for trying to get a decent value out of someone they are going to be partially paying for regardless.
rodgers is worth a minimum of 2 2nd round picks. if the jets somehow make the playoffs it should turn into a 1st next year.
or take bahtiari too and make it a 1st this year and a 1st next year.
The Jets are fine giving 2 2nd round picks up for Rogers, but if you know really what is going on the packers also want a number 1 pick
Lol… you are clueless
It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen without multiple Day 2 picks. GB also wants a “premier” player, I understand. Depending upon their definition of “premier,” I could see the Jets including Corey Davis and/or Carl Lawson for cap reasons. GB has its own cap hell to deal with, so either one would require a restructure. Davis’s spot may go to OBJ. Jermaine Johnson would be asked to step up in place of Lawson.
i believe the packers have moved on from their desire for the jets to add a premier player… i havent heard any mention of that since rodgers revealed his desire to play for the jets
I mean not to be a Brady apologist or anything but he played at a high level until about 44 years old. If Rodgers played at that level for another 4-5 years I would gladly give up multiple 2nds
Brady is an exception. Brady ran home to his wife Giselle and his green smoothie every morning and his 2 ounces of chicken breast every evening with greens. Brady didn’t drink, didn’t party, ate right, slept enough, worked out non-stop.
Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have that lifestyle, and it shows. Aaron is ageing much faster than Brady.
Aaron goes out late at night, dates fast women…Hollywood actresses, billionaires’ daughters, literal race car drivers. Aaron smokes pot, enjoys a drink loves to party. Far rather be at a dinner or a party with Rodgers, but it does mean he’s unlikely to be able to play at a high level as long as Brady.
So Brady’s longetivity is a very poor indicator for the Jets in terms of trade value for Aaron Rodgers.
What are you even talking about ? Brady definitely drank
Maybe wrong, but I think the $40 million bonus is on the Packers cap, but actually paying it is on the Jets. Cap hit for the Jets is $15 million for this year.
Greedy? Jets are desperate so they will pay a high cost because they don’t have leverage.
The Jets have plenty of leverage. The Packers want Rodgers gone and no other team wants him. The Packers are screwed if the Jets decide to walk away
How would that be mad? The jets haven’t won a super bowl in 50 years and the team looks ready just need a QB.
Is there risk? Obviously but if you talk to any jet fan they’re more than willing to roll the dice.
I don’t understand the holdup either. Give a second and conditional 5th that becomes a 2nd or 3rd if he plays next year and is a pro bowler this year. Get it done already
I just want the trade to happen, can’t wait for the division to be rid of Rodgers.
Bears fan?
Vikings fan, he’s not our owner but it would just be nice for a minute if Packers fans could experience what it’s like without a Hall of Fame QB.
I can’t wait to never have to hear them talking about him ever again
Well you will still, but at least you can take consolation that it’ll be past tense. I am a Packer fan, but tired of his annual “will he, won’t he” dramas. I would have expected him to have avoided them, having lived through it himself with Favre, but no …
Many of us Packer fans still remember the Lynn Dickey/Randy Wright dog days and realize we’ve been playing with house money for quite sometime.
Both teams playing it smart working out a fair deal.
My thought is Packers get a first round pick swap (15 to 13) and a second round pick this year. This tallies about half the trade chart value of the jets number one pick. Then one contingent pick based on performance next year. If jets make superbowl the pick is a first. If rodgers earns MVP or jets make afc championship game it is a second. If they win afc east or win a playoff game it is a third. Also if rodgers plays for jets in 2024 packers get a 2025 third.
A pick swap of 13 & 15 would be equivalent to the Jets giving the Packers a late 3rd/early 4th round pick (based on draft points). I don’t know if Jets will be willing to further sweeten the pot like that.
These two GMs seem pretty incompetent. They could have come to an agreement a long time ago – possibly by involving a third team in the discussion.
It’d be hard to find a GM who would want to make it easier for them.
Here’s how:
This draft is supposedly weak at the top, strong in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and weak at the bottom. This means that on the middle of day 1 you are still paying first round money to players who are really second rounders.
Suppose the Jets offered this third team two strong #2s for the third team’s weak #1 pick – and then gave the Packers that weak #1 for Rodgers (along with some future conditional picks). The third team saves money/cap, gets two good players instead of one, the Packers get their face-saving #1 and some conditionals (along with punting Rodgers salary), and the Jets of course get Rodgers (for two #2s).
It appears now, if what’s being reported is to be believed, that a first is not GB’s asking price any longer.
And if the 2 seconds are more valuable because there supposedly isn’t any actual first round talent…why would they take a singular first over a pair of seconds? Especially with a GM who has somewhat of a history of moving up during the draft.
I don’t think Gute is the smartest guy in the room, but that approach might (finally) cost him his job.
whens the last time a 3 team deal was completed in the NFL, and how would have adding a third, potentially more confusing component to this trade aided in this timeline? as the article states, no one benefits from this deal being done today, and its somewhat uncertain that the packers even care if the deal is done before this years draft… it has been widely documented that the cap number drops if the deal is done post june 1st, so, IMO, that seems like one of the few responsible things a packer GM has done involving rodgers…
MLG- I was wondering the same thing. I can’t recall any 3 team trades in the NFL..nit saying it hasn’t happened, but it sure isn’t common as in the NBA (except that the NBA now seems to love 4, 5 and 6 team deals..).
I also can’t see, either cap-wise, or draft capital-wise, how a 3rd team would be willing to help facilitate a deal, much less how it would work. Seems like it’s already complicated enough with 2 teams involved.
I also believe GB is holding out to complete the deal until after June 1st. They can agree to a deal whenever, but I don’t think it becomes official until post June 1.
It boggles my mind how everyone and their brother KNOWS what the compensation is/will/should be from the Jets, NONE of them agree, yet they can’t figure out why the actual deal between the 2 front offices hasn’t been announced.
The three team trade thing made me curious, so I looked it up. Eric Dickerson was part of a three team trade involving LA, Buffalo and Indianapolis in ’87 it seems. The last three team trade I could find took place in ’09. I knew it was uncommon, but I was curious how uncommon.
You are clueless
it wouldn’t surprise me if GB insists the trade be after May 1st for cap relief reasons, which would be fine with Jets since picks would be in ’24 & ’25, and GM gets to use both 2nd rounders this year
oops.. meant June 1st (May 1st is Love’s 5th yr option date)
They couldn’t come to a swap long ago. They had to wait to hear from Rodgers whether he was retiring or not first.
And that’s the hang up on trade compensation. Jets are worries that giving up that much in trade only for Rodgers to retire after the year.
“The view around the league points to the Packers targeting two high picks.”
Sounds made up, a source who declined to be identified said.
I’m still thinking this trade either doesn’t happen at all until after the draft, or it happens prior to with 2024 picks. The main reason is the cap implications to GB if the trade is formalized prior to June 1.
link to overthecap.com