Soon-to-be New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he isn’t holding up a trade between the Jets and Green Bay Packers, and it’s his belief that the Packers are holding out to get the compensation they want from the Jets.
“I haven’t been holding anything up at this point, it’s been compensation that the Packers are trying to get for me, and kind of digging their heels in, so it is interesting at this point to step back and take a look at the whole picture,” Rodgers told “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday.
Rodgers, who is still under contract with the Packers, confirmed playing for the Jets in 2023 is his intention. But Rodgers-the-Jet isn’t official until the two sides can agree on the parameters of a trade that will send the future Hall of Famer from Green Bay to New York.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Packers aren’t asking for two first-round picks in exchange for Rodgers, despite a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN suggesting otherwise earlier on Wednesday.
The ball appears to be in the Jets’ court. The Jets want Rodgers, and Rodgers wants the Jets, and now everyone knows the desired outcome. The Packers don’t necessarily need to rush into a trade considering Rodgers remains under contract and his massive roster bonus can be exercised at any point between now and Week 1.
The one deadline for the Packers might be the 2023 draft. Presumably, the Packers will want premium picks in April’s draft, so the two sides — in theory — still have over a month to figure out a trade. A resolution sooner rather than later still works better for both sides.
Expect the Packers to squeeze the Jets until the right compensation is agreed upon. The franchise is ready to move on to Jordan Love at quarterback, but the Packers aren’t going to give away Rodgers without maximizing the return for a premium asset.
