Jets Excited About Possibly Acquiring Aaron Rodgers After Meeting

The speculation that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be traded to the New York Jets appears to be more than just talk now as the move is becoming a real possibility based on events this week, according to an ESPN.com report on Tuesday.

ESPN.com reported that Jets officials spoke to Rodgers, a former Cal quarterback, on Monday and a group of Jets officials, including owner Woody Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas, head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, flew to California on Tuesday to speak with Rodgers in person.

Then on Thursday, ESPN's Dianna Russini reported that the Jets officials came away with their meeting with Rodgers excited about the possibility of obtaining Rodgers. This excerpt says is all:

Johnson left the meeting excited and satisfied about the potential match, sources told Russini.

A source told Packer Central, the SI.com site for Geen Bay Packers football, that there is a sense that the Jets are trying to “seal the deal,” adding, “They’re not going out there to escape the cold.”

All the talk about a possible trade to the Jets is a bit premature because Rodgers has not announced whether he plans to play in 2023 or retire. Presumably part of the reasons the Jets are sending their top officials to meet with Rodgers is to find out whether he will retire.

Since Rodgers is still under contract with the Packers, the Jets would have to get permission from the Packers to speak to Rodgers directly. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported on Tuesday that the Packers have given their permission, which suggests the Packers are at least open to the possibility of trading Rodgers.

From NFL Now: This has always been about what #Packers QB Aaron Rodgers wants. And the process has begun for him to find out, as he's speaking with the #Jets. pic.twitter.com/ZEP1UAH7At
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2023

Rapoport also said on Tuesday that the Packers would accommodate Rodgers if he wants to play for the Jets in terms of working out a trade.

The Jets' interest in Rodgers is obvious. Their roster seems to be good enough for a Super Bowl run, except for the lack of an elite quarterback.

It could be that Rodgers is just investigating his options, and there is no indication that a trade or agreement is imminent, but presumably the Jets would not be sending that many key personnel to meet with Rodgers unless they thought there was a pretty good chance they could acquire him.

Rodgers is a four-time MVP and won it as recently as the 2020 and 2021 seasons. But he had his poorest season as an NFL starting quarterback in 2022, and he will turn 40 years old in December.

The fact that Hackett is now the Jets offensive coordinator is significant because he was the Packers offensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021 when Rodgers won his most recent MVPs.

The speculation that Rodgers might go to the Raiders has died down after it was reported tht Raiders do not plan to pursue Rodgers.

Rodgers is under contract through 2024 for a total of $108.8 million. Of that, $59.5 million is fully guaranteed for the 2023 season. But because Rodgers will get bonus money that is prorated, the Jets’ salary-cap situation would not be hurt too badly by adding Rodgers.

The Jets previously met with Derek Carr, but he has signed with the Saints.

Cover photo by Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports

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