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One of the biggest blockbuster trades in NFL history went down Monday as the Green Bay Packers for the second time in fifteen years traded away another aging iconic quarterback Aaron Rodgers (the first being Brett Favre in 2008) to the New York Jets. Here are the trade details and what each team is getting.
Packers get:
No. 13 overall pick (first round)
No. 42 overall pick (second round)
No. 207 overall pick (sixth round)
Conditional second-round pick in 2024
Jets get:
4-time MVP Aaron Rodgers
No.15 overall pick (first round)
No. 170 overall pick (fifth round)
According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the conditional second-round pick the Packers received from the Jets will become a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of the games next season.
What does this deal mean for the Packers?
This deal gives the Packers a plethora of draft capital and valuable draft picks they can use to rebuild in the post-Rodgers era. This deal will also allow the Packers to finally give their young 24-year-old quarterback Jordan Love, who they took a risk on as a 26th overall first-round pick in 2020 that came with a lot of controversies.
Love has only played in 10 games thus far in his NFL career where he has only thrown for 83 passing attempts and has completed 50 of them (60.2%) and three touchdowns. The Packers are betting big on Love to become their franchise quarterback after dealing Rodgers $50 million a year to the Jets to save up cap space and start Love, who’s still currently on the rookie contract that has him making a base salary of $2.2 million in 2023 according to Spotrac.
It’s a new era in Green Bay… Can Love become the quarterback they just betted on? What moves can they make come free agency after dumping Rodger's big contract to the Jets? Can they hit on any draft picks of all the picks they obtained to acquire more talent to the roster? All questions will be fascinating to watch as things unfold.
What does this deal mean for the Jets?
Now for the Jets… The Jets are taking a risk by signing an aging all-time great quarterback in Rodgers who had a subpar season this past year as he is pushing 40 years of age. They now take on his massive contract of three years, $150 million he signed an extension with the Packers back in March of 2022.
Despite Rodgers advanced age, the Jets finally now have an elite quarterback since Favre played for them with their last two draft picks at the position being disappointments in Sam Darnold in 2018 (now QB for the Carolina Panthers) and Zach Wilson who was the second overall pick in 2021 by the Jets.
Rodger's contract, which includes $60 million in salary and bonuses that can be spread across the next two seasons that will count as only $15.8 million and $32.5 million against the Jets’ cap in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
The Packers will have to eat $40.3 million in the dead cap on their salary cap after the Rodgers deal.
Rodgers will have an elite primary passing target in the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in Garrett Wilson, as well as options in former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver and two-time Super Bowl Champion Mecole Hardman, and his former teammate from back in Green Bay in Allen Lazard to name a few.
The Jets also were one of the five best defensive teams in the league last season, ranking fourth overall according to Pro Football Reference led by their reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-Pro Ahmad “Sauce” Gardener who seems to have injected new life into the Jets defense and looks to be one of the better corners for the next decade.
The Jets have the pieces to be very promising, and here’s Rodgers at his introductory press conference Tuesday with the Jets.
Verdict
It seems both teams got what they desired in the Packers moving on from the aging icon and legend in Rodgers to start fresh and usher in a new era with Love and the young pieces they look to accumulate over time.
The Jets get a Hall of Fame aging quarterback that just won the MVP two seasons ago and will look to have a big chip on his shoulder after being dealt after a less than stellar season last year.
Can Love make the proverbial jump in year four and become the Packers quarterback of the future? Can Rodgers turn back the clock and play at an MVP level and help lead the Jets to their first postseason berth since 2010 and home game since 2003?
Those are some questions that pundits will be keeping a close eye on to be answered in what was one of the most fascinating trades in league history.
Are the Jets Super Bowl Contenders after the Rodgers deal?
- Yes they definitely have the talent
- No, want to see them play first