According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the New York Jets have officially inquired about trading for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.
The news doesn’t come as a shock. New York went 7-10 last season, and if Zach Wilson hadn’t started nine games, the team probably would’ve made the playoffs. Wilson has thrown for 4,022 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions over parts of two seasons, completing 55.2% of his passes.
Jets owner Woody Johnson has been adamant about adding a veteran QB to replace and hopefully mentor Wilson. Speaking to Dianna Russini of ESPN at the NFL Honors, Johnson couldn’t specifically mention Rodgers but said, “I think if a quarterback comes in, it’s kind of an ideal situation.”
Johnson has a valid argument. With Rodgers likely leaving Green Bay, there might not be a better fit for him than the Jets. New York’s defense, led by Defensive Rookie of the Year CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, allowed the second-fewest points per game this season (18.6).
There are several dynamic playmakers on offense on the Jets, including Offensive Rookie of the Year WR Garrett Wilson and RB Breece Hall. If Hall hadn’t suffered a season-ending knee injury, he could have won the award over Wilson.
The Jets may have been laying the groundwork for a Rodgers trade for a while now. Last month, the team hired Rodgers’ former Packers OC, Nathaniel Hackett, for the same role, which many speculated was a move to lure the four-time MVP to New York.
Additionally, Gardner hinted that the Rodgers rumors were more than smoke on his recent “Good Morning Football” appearance. When host Peter Schrager asked about the Rodgers rumors, the All-Pro replied, “I can’t speak on it too, too much, but I know a little something about something.”
Packers president Mark Murphy told Russini that there isn’t a deadline for Rodgers to make a decision, but “the sooner the decision is made, the better.” Murphy will have to wait until Rodgers completes the four-day, four-night isolation retreat he told “The Pat McAfee Show” he’s taking before deciding his future.
Should Rodgers leave Green Bay, the Packers’ 2020 first-round pick, Jordan Love, would be the presumed starter. According to ESPN, Green Bay must decide by May 1 whether to exercise Love’s fifth-year option worth around $20 million fully guaranteed.
It’ll be intriguing to see how much a 39-year-old QB costs in a trade. However, Rodgers’ talent and New York’s strong supporting cast should be enough to end the NFL’s longest active playoff drought.
