How are the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets going to find common ground on a trade for Aaron Rodgers?
Peter King of NBC Sports has an idea, but fair warning: his proposal doesn’t include the Jets’ 2023 first-round pick going to the Packers. In fact, he doesn’t think the deal should include pick No. 13 given the fact that Rodgers turns 40 in December and may only play one more season.
So, unless Rodgers can commit to playing in 2023 and 2024, King’s idea centered around a lesser value pick this year and a conditional pick for next year.
From King:
The fairest deal: Jets trade a second-rounder this year (43rd overall) and a conditional pick in 2025, not 2024, based on whether Rodgers plays football for New York in 2024. If he plays 100 snaps or more in 2024, the Jets give Green Bay a first-round pick. If Rodgers plays less than that, the Jets give Green Bay a third-rounder. So if Rodgers plays two years for New York, the price is a first- and a second-; if he plays one year, the price is a second- and a third-. I totally see Green Bay’s point about playing hardball for Rodgers, but the 13th pick in the draft for a guy who might play one year? I don’t see it. Unless Rodgers flat-out guarantees the Jets he’s there for two years, minimum, I’m not considering paying the 2023 one for him.
It’s an intriguing offer. The Packers would get another top-50 pick this year to help build around Jordan Love, plus the possibility of getting a first-rounder next year if Rodgers returns in 2024. The first-rounder next year could be very important if Love is a bust as a first-year starter and the Packers need to re-stock at quarterback. Maybe the Jets could throw in a player (Corey Davis? Elijah Moore?) to sweeten the deal for the Packers and lessen the impact of not getting pick No. 13 in this year’s draft.
We’ll see. Certainly, the Packers would prefer to get a first-rounder this year and what could be a first-rounder next year in exchange for the four-time NFL MVP. But it’s possible King’s framework ends up closer to the final compensation between the Jets and Packers.
