Aaron Rodgers ‘is in talks with the Jets about a potential trade from the Packers’ – but the four-time MVP remains undecided on his future nearly two weeks after leaving obscurity
Aaron Rodgers and his agent are in talks with the New York Jets this week about a possible trade from the Green Bay Packers, sources have said. ESPN.
Neither the Jets nor Rodgers’ agent immediately confirmed the report when DailyMail.com contacted them via email.
Rodgers, 39, has made no career decisions since emerging from a four-day darkness retreat in the Oregon wilderness where he was expected to consider his next move, whether it be retirement, forcing a trade or another season in Green Bay.
It may seem like a leap of faith to tie his NFL future to a four-day field trip, but Rodgers previously credited a pair of off-season ayahuasca retreats for his MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021, saying the psychedelic tea that he drank in Peru paved the way for his success on the field.
The Jets appear motivated to make a deal after missing out on free agent quarterback Derek Carr, who agreed Monday to a four-year, $150 million contract with the New Orleans Saints. The former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback was considered a viable option for the Jets, who are reportedly interested in replacing struggling starter Zach Wilson with a more experienced veteran.
Aaron Rodgers and his agent are in talks with the New York Jets this week about a possible trade from the Green Bay Packers, sources have told ESPN.
Jets fans hope to improve a 7-10 season after New York’s strong 2022 draft
The Packers would have to give their go-ahead for Rodgers to deal directly with the Jets since he remains under contract at Green Bay, but that shouldn’t be an obstacle. The waning Packers fell to 8-9 last season and appear to be in need of a rebuild that could be helped by trading Rodgers and his remaining paycheck.
Rodgers has $108.8 million left on his current contract, which runs through 2026, though that season and 2025 are considered “dummy” years on the books for salary cap purposes only.
His deal is fully guaranteed for $59.5 million this season, most of which will be in the form of a regular season start bonus, according to ESPN.
But the Jets wouldn’t necessarily hurt for cap room if they bought him, because Rodgers’ bonus was split prorated over his current three-year contract. According to ESPN, he would total $15.8 million towards his team’s salary cap in 2023 and $32.5 million for 2024.
Meanwhile, the Packers would still have $40.3 million of Rodgers’ 2023 salary on their books in case he is traded. That’s a whopping 18 percent of the NFL’s $224.8 million salary cap for this year.
The Jets are coming off a 7-10 season, in which they boasted fifth place on defense, as well as the offensive and defensive Rookies of the Year in receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner.
The biggest concerns for coach Robert Saleh’s team were along the offensive line and at quarterback, where Zach Wilson finished 34th in the NFL with a dismal 72.8 quarterback rating.
Fourth-year quarterback Mike White played well at times, but is also entering free agency and it is unclear if he will return.
The Jets are coming off a 7-10 season, in which they boasted fifth place on defense, as well as the offensive and defensive Rookies of the Year in receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner. The biggest concerns for coach Robert Saleh’s team were along the offensive line and at quarterback, where Zach Wilson (right) finished 34th in the NFL with a dismal 72.8 quarterback rating. Fourth-year quarterback Mike White (left) played well at times, but is also entering free agency and it is unclear if he will return
