We heard earlier this week that Jets owner Woody Johnson was starting to feel anxious about the lack of progress on an Aaron Rodgers trade. Joe Douglas did his part to quell any concern during a WFAN appearance last night, telling the crowd that Rodgers is “gonna be here” (h/t to ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).
[RELATED: Multiple Day 2 Picks Viewed As Enough To Finalize Rodgers Trade?]
While Douglas has been careful with his wording while discussing Rodgers with the media, he’s also expressed continuous optimism that the two sides would eventually agree to compensation. However, Rich Cimini is cautioning (on Twitter) that this latest declaration isn’t a hint that a trade is pending.
The ESPN reporter notes that Douglas was playing to a “pro-Jets crowd,” and he cautions that nothing has changed on the trade front. Cimini refers back to Douglas’s comments during last month’s owners meetings, when the GM stated that he was “very optimistic” about acquiring the future Hall of Famer; Cimini says there’s been no progress since that time.
We heard recently that the two sides had completed most of the trade details but were still haggling over the exact compensation. While some pundits initially believed that the Packers would ask for New York’s 13th-overall selection, it’s seeming unlikely that the Jets will have to surrender a Day 1 pick. Rather, the general sentiment is that Green Bay will ultimately receive a Day 2 pick (perhaps the No. 43 pick acquired in the Elijah Moore trade) plus a conditional draft pick that hinges on Rodgers’ performance and decision on the 2024 season.
There’s always a chance the Packers could play hardball, but even the most pessimistic fan would be hard pressed to doubt Douglas’s sentiment. Rodgers has publicly stated his desire to play for the Jets next season, and the Packers have also all but cut ties with their franchise quarterback. This leaves Green Bay with little leverage in trade talks, and while they could continue to delay the transaction in hopes of squeezing out a few more assets, it’s only a matter of time before Rodgers is in New York.
Despite not being on the official roster, that hasn’t stopped Rodgers from working out with some of his former/future teammates. As passed along by Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, Rodgers worked out with wide receiver Allen Lazard this week. The wideout spent five seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay, including a 2022 campaign where he finished with career-highs in receptions (60) and receiving yards (788). Lazard inked a four-year contract with the Jets last month.
The Packers have 2 quarterbacks. The Jets have none. Packers have the leverage.
you are wrong
No, they don’t Jets would be fine drafting later this month with all their picks
The Jets by their own admission are abysmal at developing QB prospects, which is why they decided to pursue veterans like Carr and Rodgers rather than rely on the draft again.
Carson Wentz is still out there
correct
The Packers have no leverage. They’ve severed ties with Rodgers yet he’s still on the team and due a huge salary. The Jets aren’t going to bid against themselves here.
You clearly have no idea what leverage is or how it works.
Jets have 2 qbs on the roster
The Packers have 2 quarterbacks. The Jets have none. Packers have the leverage…
Say that again?
It’s like Dejavu all over again.
Keep saying it, maybe it’ll be true sometime. Certainly isn’t true now
2023 2nd rounder
2024 3rd round that’s conditional on 2023 outcomes – playoffs superbowl whatever conditions they agree upon.
Just get it over with already and let’s move on.
It’s the money and timing of the trade IMO. Even I can figure out a fair draft pick package and I’m only a pretend GM.
The problem is that Green Bay is looking for an unconditional first rounder in 2024.
They can look all they want, they wont find it.
Then what?
Then enjoy MILF Hunter Wilson then..
Not a Jets fan, bud. Just the logical unbiased opinion. I’ll eat my hat if they get an unconditional 1st for him.
Rodgers bonus comes due when the season starts. The Jets could can play coy and act as though they would be willing to take a QB, but the Packers can sit through this draft/FA market and still hold him.
So who has the advantage the team that is moving on already or the one who wont be able to work with him in August?
Packers could wait out the draft and ask for future 1’s. Plus the Jets and their fandom is going to love having a roster full of guys who have to buy into Wilson..
The closer GB gets to week 1, the more leverage they lose. GB has no intention or desire to pay Rodgers $60m. Waiting til June 1st to stretch out cap hit over ’23 & ’24 makes no sense IMO as most FAs are already signed. I think GB takes the full hit in ’23, and get the contract off their books.
For the Jets to get Rodgers all they have to do is trade their 2 second rounders plus a conditional pick in ‘24 should Rodgers play that year. It’s simple not sure why NY are being morons about it
Green Bay is the one still holding out for a 1st round pick. Not sure how NY are the morons here bud
Because he’s not worth 2 2nds in the same draft?
Everyone on the planet thanks to A-Arons tantrums knows he’s out in GB. Everyome also knows the team he wants to play for! So I see NYJ having the advantage. All they have to do is sit and watch the drama come to boil in the Rodgers camp. GB will be lucky to get a 2nd. If I were NYJ I’d offer a 3rd or nothing and watch the fireworks.
Jets traded their 3rd in the Moore trade
For the Jets to get Rogers all they have to do is wait. Period.
They’ll be waiting until September 1st then. The Packers owe no money to Rodgers until the start of the regular season. Not sure getting your QB1 when the season kickoffs is a good plan…
Swap 1st round picks
Packers get a 2nd rounder
Conditional 2024 most likely a 3rd if Jets make SuperBowl it’s a 2nd
If Rodgers retires after 1 year it’s a 4
If he plays they make the playoffs and he is all in for 2024 they get a 2nd
If they don’t make the playoffs and he continues for 2024 it’s a 3rd
Not that hard
Tell me a fairer proposal
I don’t see Jets swapping 1st rounders b/c NE, like NY, needs a left tackle. Also, moving down 2 spots is equivalent to a low 3rd/high 4th rd pick (based on points). Unless there is someone GB is targeting, I think they would rather have the points as an extra pick.
I just don’t understand what the Packets, and some other teams, like the Buccaneers, are doing? If I am Tampa Bay, I would give my 1st and 2nd in a heartbeat to get Rodgers, plus a conditional pick if he plays in ‘24. If you’re the Packers GM, who gives a crap if it is in the NFC if you get much better compensation for your team, which I doubt is a true SB contender without Rodgers anyway. Rodgers is going to be better, even if you only get him for one year, than almost anyone the Buccaneers are getting with those draft picks anyway. I would be absolutely delighted as a Buccaneers fan to have Rodgers over those draft picks.
On another note, if I was the Packers I would tell the Jets two 1st rounders or go pound sand. Without Rodgers their team will wallow in anonymity as a non contender for the next two seasons even in the best case scenarios. What is the downside for the Packers?
1) Rodgers plays and you have one of the best QB’s ever, and remain a current SB contender, especially in the NFC.
2) Rodgers sits, and then you don’t have to pay him, and get a huge chunk of $ off your cap.
3) A decent compensation package from another team that I mentioned earlier.
A 2nd rd pick for even one year of a franchise QB is a joke. It isn’t very likely to help your team enough in the future to just give him away, and if the Jets owner and GM don’t pull this trade off, at this point in time, the fans will come unglued when they march out Carson Wentz or Zach Wilson on the field for this season. I am not a Packers or Jets fan, but this seems pretty simple to me.
Packers have literally ALL the leverage. Jets have zero. Not sure how anyone could see it the other way around. Packers are fine to just let him retire than simply give him away, and why shouldn’t they. The Jets have backed themselves in a corner and will have to meet the Packers demands if they want him. It’s that simple. Jets pick too late to draft a top QB. As I said initially, they should have just signed Carr. It was the smarter move. This has been badly misplayed by Jets GM.
weirdly the 2 teams have been chatting about the trade since the super bowl. you’d think they would have compensation figured out. one thing I think GB knows for sure, is Jets are their only trade partner.
I mean I agree they would have been smart to have just signed Carr but that wasn’t on JD, it was Woody who insisted on Rodgers. As for the Jets having no leverage, the Packers have publicly acknowledged they don’t want him back and no other team has even asked about him. Sounds like leverage for the Jets to me
Rodgers won’t retire if he’s not traded. He’ll play out his full two years of contract. Why wouldn’t he? The total compensation is about $120 million. More if he’s extended (otherwise he’s a free agent with a lot of money on dead years).
Leverage now:
1. Aaron Rodgers. He gets paid to play or not to play, regardless of what Green Bay does.
2. NY Jets. No Rodgers equals more salary cap space, there’s other quarterbacks, there’s other seasons. NYJ fans are used to tough seasons, they’re not Steelers or Patriots or Packers fans who have been spoiled by success.
#3 should be the Packers but they have no leverage. There’s a huge amount of cap and dead cap to deal with, due to the extension already signed. There’s no trade partners for their fading former MVP and that extension they signed. Except for the NYJ.
If the Jets tough it out to late August, they’d be able to get Rodgers for a conditional seventh round pick.
if the 49ers, or another team, has interest in Rodgers that could put some pressure on the Jets. Well, yeah, maybe.
Packers have said they wouldn’t trade him to the NFC
Yeah, they said that. But things could change for the right offer. Plus, I’d be more inclined not to trade him within the division.
If they like what SF can offer more than what the Jets are offering then by all means, send him to SF. There has been no talk about anyone else wanting him all offseason, now all of a sudden there’s “rumors” about SF? It reeks of desperation on GB’s part. They want him gone but the Jets won’t budge on their offer and they don’t want to look like they’re settling
It will be interesting to see how it all settles out. So many people think the trade is all about draft picks. Could involve a player too.
Once the Jets get through the drama of acquiring him, they’ll get the annual offseason drama of whether he’ll stay.
God he’s going to be insufferable
PFR missed a perfect opportunity for a poll-
Who has the leverage:
1. Green Bay
2. Jets
3. Rodgers
4. No one
Rodgers has 2 types of leverage … first is the treat of retiring scared off teams Rodgers doesn’t want to play for… second, he can go to camp and make things uncomfortable. I’m sure GB would prefer to avoid having Rodgers in camp and he gets traded b4 that, so he may never get to play that card
*threat
Joe Douglas did his part to quell any concern during a WFAN appearance last night, telling the crowd that Rodgers is “gonna be here”
Wait, wut? A GM from one team talking about having a player who is under contract on a DIFFERENT team? Why isn’t the NFL issuing tampering penalties on the Jets?
To rephrase another comment: the Packers have the QB they want, the Jets do not. Advantage Packers.
The Packers would be ok Rodgers retiring(probably their original wish), the Jets would be scrambling and embarrassed, even for the Jets, if he isn’t traded to them and retires.
The only risk the Packers have is Rodgers reports and sits as a backup, which seems very unlikely even if the trade talks blow up.
If we need to pick who has the most leverage it’s the Packers due to these factors.
But of course he’ll be traded before the draft, I think everyone understands this.
Rodgers firmly plans to collect $150 million over the next three years. Why wouldn’t he? He’s got a signed contract.
Do you have information that the Packers GM plans to hire some toughs to beat Rodgers up and make him retire?
is it possible that Aaron Rodgers trade is waiting til draft night b/c if big 3 OTs are off the board the Jets will swap #13 for #15, if Jets draft OT at #13 then GB gets Jets 4th round pick?
The trade has been complete for a while now. The Packers wanted to spread the cap over multiple seasons so they have to wait for that. Thats all. Move on, everyone. The trade has already happened.