Done Deal ✈️
04/25/2023
By: Jeff Yoder
Packers & Jets Finally Agree to Aaron Rodgers Trade in Draft Week Blockbuster
Finally… After two years of head-butting with the front office in Green Bay, the Packers are traded Aaron Rodgers to the Jets ahead of this week’s NFL Draft. The trade had been expected since the end of the 2022-23 NFL season, and Rodgers made public comments 40 days ago about his desire to play in New York. The 39-year-old Rodgers is a four-time MVP, including back-to-back awards in 2020 and 2021. And the Jets? They’re loaded at every position except quarterback, until now. It’s a short window before Rodgers’ age finally catches up, so it’s Super Bowl or bust in the next two years for New York.
Jets Get: QB Aaron Rodgers, 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 15)
Packers Get: 2023 1st-Round Pick (No. 13), 2023 2nd-Round Pick (No. 42), 2023 6th-Round Pick (No. 207) & Conditional 2024 2nd-Round Pick
*The 2024 conditional pick becomes a 1st if Rodgers plays 65 percent of New York’s snaps this season.
Aaron in the Big Apple
The Jets and Hall of Fame QB Joe Namath gave Rodgers his blessing to wear the retired No. 12 jersey, but he’s expected to don No. 8 — the same number he wore in college at California. The Jets are suddenly contenders in the AFC after seven consecutive losing seasons and no playoff appearances since 2010.
Leaving Green Bay Behind
Rodgers’ departure marks the end of an era in Wisconsin. The 4-time MVP led the Packers to 11 postseason appearances and one Super Bowl win over 15 seasons as the starter (18 total). Things got contentious between Rodgers and the front office in the past two seasons after the team failed to surround him with talent. For 12, it was a trade to the Jets or retire from football.
Rodgers in the Record Books
Passing Yards: 59,055 (9th All-Time)
Passing TDs: 475 (5th All-Time)
Passer Rating: 103.6 (2nd All-Time)
Reminder: Tom Brady (Bucs) and Matthew Stafford (Rams) both won the Super Bowl in their first season with a new franchise and a luxury of weapons after a decade or more with one team. Those are the only two QBs not named Patrick Mahomes to win a Super Bowl in the last four seasons. Both teams were in the NFC.
Additional Storylines
B/R: How Aaron Rodgers Trade to Jets Impacts the 2023 NFL Draft
ESPN: Aaron Rodgers Trade: Super Bowl or Bust for Jets?
FOX Sports: Aaron Rodgers Trade Analysis: How Jets, Packers Did & What’s Next
Image via Giphy