SI's Breer Starts NFL Draft Week with Rodgers Trade Prediction

The New York Jets are expected to acquire their new starting quarterback this week

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer led off his “MMQB Takeaways” article with none other than an Aaron Rodgers trade take.

Kicking off NFL Draft Week, the SI national scribe tackled a number of hot topics, including the Detroit Lions’ gambling revelations, but the New York Jets’ quarterback pursuit was the headliner.

Breer suggested that the Jets and Green Bay Packers will reach a trade agreement to exchange Rodgers for draft picks at some point this week.

“I think the Aaron Rodgers deal will get done, probably Thursday. As we’ve said before, this thing has been too close to being done, and there’s too much on the line for everyone involved, for it not to happen. And while there is breathing room to take the negotiation all the way into Friday night, my guess is Rodgers will be a Jet before then.”

Breer, who wrote 473 words on the topic, dove into the trade compensation details as well.

"I do feel comfortable saying that either the 42nd or 43rd pick will be part of the trade (which selection is another thing the Jets and Packers have haggled over), with, as we’ve said for a couple of weeks, what the 2024 pick looks like being what needs to be worked out in the coming days,” said Breer.

🏈🏈 @TheMMQB Takeaways for 4.24! 🏈🏈

💥 Thursday's a big day in the @AaronRodgers12 saga.
💥 May 10 = A checkpoint for @Commanders sale.
💥 Inside the NFL gambling policy.
💥 How Patricia landed in Philly.
💥 My issue with @JoshAllenQB comps.
💥 MORE!https://t.co/TM3tXCzY9U

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 24, 2023

ESPN’s Adam Schefter speculated that the “soft deadline” for the trade to be completed was Friday, April 28.

Early this month, longtime NFL columnist Peter King suggested the trade could happen during the Draft.

“I think the over/under date for the Aaron Rodgers trade is early evening April 28. That’s when the second round of the NFL Draft begins. That’s when the first of likely two or three draft choices to be exchanged would happen. The Jets have the 11th and 12th picks in round two, 42nd and 43rd overall, and I’d bet one of those picks will be the key to this trade getting done,” wrote King in the April 3 edition of his “Football Morning In America” column.

Rodgers declared his intention to move on from the Packers and play for the Jets on March 15 while appearing as a guest on the Pat McAfee Show. The four-time NFL MVP said he contemplated retirement during his “darkness retreat,” but decided to return for his 19th professional season wearing a different shade of green. 

The 39-year old Rodgers, who has reached the 4,000-yard passing mark in five of his last seven seasons, worked three years (2019-21) with current Jets' offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett calling the plays in Green Bay and the QB1 won two MVP awards (2020, 2021) in that time. 

With Rodgers and Hackett teamed up, the Packers scored the second-most points (509) in the franchise's single-season history during the 2020 campaign. Rodgers set career highs in completion percentage (70.7) and touchdown passes (48) that year. 

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