Issues complicating the Jets-Packers Aaron Rodgers deal

NFL

Factor: Brian Costello

March 16, 2023 | at 23:23

We’ve gone from Aaron Rodgers Watch to Aaron Rodgers Wait.

Rodgers told the world on Wednesday’s “The Pat McAfee Show” that he plans to play for the Jets.

The only issue now is if and when the Jets and Packers can make a trade that both sides agree to in order to get Rodgers in green and white.

The two sides are in talks, but there seems to be a gap in who they think Rodgers should be traded for.

Pro Football Talk reports that the Packers are looking for the Jets’ first-round pick this year (No. 13 overall) and also something in 2025 if Rodgers plays in 2024.

There is no visible deadline for the completion of this transaction. Sometimes a player’s contract has a bonus trigger date that moves things along, but the way Rodgers’ contract is structured, the Packers can wait.

Most of Rodgers’ salary can be converted into an option bonus for 2023, but it doesn’t have to be exercised until September.

If the Packers want draft picks this year, the April 27th draft will be the deadline.

The Jets’ offseason program begins on April 17, and they will certainly want Rodgers to get the playbook and start working with his new coaches and teammates.

All of this is a doomsday scenario. It’s more likely that the Jets and Packers will come to an agreement much sooner.

Discussions have been ongoing since Rodgers told the Jets he wanted to join the team last Friday. At some point, a compromise will be reached so both teams can move on.

Finding the right price for Rodgers is tricky because this is such an unusual trade.

We’ve seen teams like the Lions and Seahawks trade franchise players for huge packages in recent years.

The Seahawks received two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick and three players in exchange for Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick.

The Lions received two first-round picks, a third-round pick and Jared Goff in exchange for Matthew Stafford.

But Rodgers is 39 years old. Stafford and Wilson were only 33 years old.

Rodgers is also due nearly $60 million this season, making the Jets more likely to give up more for him.

There is an interesting debate about which team has influence.

The argument that the Packers have leverage is that the Jets have no other options at quarterback.

They’re not going back to Zach Wilson, and there’s nowhere else to turn at this point.

With Rodgers publicly announcing his desire to play for the Jets this week, it seems that Jets owner Woody Johnson may be anxious to wait for that to happen and tell general manager Joe Douglas to make a move.

On the flip side, the pressure on the Packers is that they have been clear about their desire to move on from Rodgers and turn things over to Jordan Love.

No other team has shown serious interest in signing Rodgers, and the Packers cannot now say they want to take him back.

As this drags on, Rodgers, who delivered them a Super Bowl and is one of the greatest players in franchise history, may also pressure the Packers to do the right thing.

The long-running public battle isn’t playing well in Green Bay.

Right now, it’s a staring contest between the Jets and the Packers.

Until someone blinks, all we can do is wait.