Jets’ Trade Elijah Moore; What Could It Mean for Rodgers Trade?

The New York Jets' trade of Elijah Moore to the Cleveland Browns has created a new path for the Green Bay Packers to send Aaron Rodgers to the Jets.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Mar 22, 2023 6:03 PM EDT
Original:
Mar 22, 2023

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers might have been interested in receiver Elijah Moore as a piece in a potential trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. Instead, the Jets on Wednesday sent Moore and a third-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for their second-round pick.

That trade creates a new path to a potential Packers-Jets blockbuster. In fact it might help break the stalemate between Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and his counterpart, Joe Douglas.

If New York doesn’t want to trade its first-round pick, No. 13 overall, because it needs to add a left tackle to a championship-caliber team, it could send the two second-rounders to Green Bay instead.

As it stands, the Jets now hold the 11th and 12th picks of the second round – Nos. 42 and 43 overall. Based on the Rich Hill trade value chart, the combined total of those picks is worth 280 points. That’s approximately the value of the 19th overall selection. Based on the Jimmy Johnson model, the Jets’ second-rounders are worth 950 points. That’s worth the 17th overall pick.

It is interesting to note that, among the Packers’ many needs entering the 2023 NFL Draft, receiver ranks near the top. Green Bay hasn’t used a first-round pick on a receiver since 2002 but has made a killing with its second-round receivers with Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Christian Watson.

If that would be the trade – and that’s obviously a big “if” – the Packers would have their own choice at No. 15 overall as well as No. 42, No. 43 and No. 45. That would present general manager Brian Gutekunst a golden opportunity to either move up and down the board, depending on where the depth is as the draft unfolds, or to stand pat and have four premium picks to address their needs.

An NFL source who had seen the report thought the two second-round picks and a conditional 2024 selection, which could be based on the Jets’ performance in 2023, Rodgers’ performance in 2023 or his return in 2024, would be a “reasonable” trade for Rodgers, the four-time MVP who has said he intends to play for the Jets.

Asked if he’d rather have the two second-rounders or No. 13, the source said he’d rather have a first-round pick in 2024. Why? The 2024 draft is expected to be better than the 2023 draft. Moreover, the Packers are wrestling with their salary cap and last year’s 13th pick, Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis, had a Year 1 cap charge of $3.1 million.

Another source, noting this draft has quality depth but not a lot of high-end talent, said he would rather have the two second-round picks than No. 13.

Shortly before the trade was made, New York signed receiver Mecole Hardman.

Packers veteran Randall Cobb remains unsigned and could be of interest to the Jets, who already have signed Allen Lazard.

Green Bay could be interested in Cobb, as well. Even though it is going young on offense, Gutekunst has talked about the need to add a veteran to a room that, at the moment, is led by four players who were selected in the 2022 draft.