10 wild NFL trades that could down down during free agency frenzy

6. Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets

There’s nothing wild about Aaron Rodgers and his fit with the New York Jets at this point in time. The wild aspect of this trade would be the Packers actually pulling the trigger. It just doesn’t feel like they’ve got what it takes to do it.

Aaron Rodgers is the greatest player in franchise history, arguably. Maybe not even arguably. Rodgers was back-to-back MVP in 2020 and 2021 but the Packers as a team took a big step back in 2022. And Rodgers isn’t immune from blame, there. There’s such tension here because it feels like things could go a few directions still, but after Derek Carr signed with the Saints and spurned the Jets, perhaps New York will ramp up their pursuit of Rodgers and make Brian Gutekunst (Packers GM) an offer he cannot refuse.

What would that look like?

I think offering two first-round picks, maybe another mid-round pick or two to sweeten the deal, would get it done. The Packers understand at this point that Rodgers is a borderline year-to-year investment, for them or any team. Getting two first-round picks from him would be a huge haul and that’s a price the Jets would probably happily pay to contend in the AFC East.

BONUS: Zach Wilson to the Las Vegas Raiders

As a bonus trade, how about Zach Wilson to the Las Vegas Raiders? It’s going to take a head coach with some hubris to take on the project that is Wilson, and I toyed with a number of ideas here before ultimately settling on the Raiders. Josh McDaniels, in just his second year as an NFL head coach, traded up to select Tim Tebow as his QB of the future. There may be no head coach in the league with more hubris.

The price would have to be right, but if the Jets can get a decent mid-round pick for Wilson after acquiring Rodgers, that might be a smart play for them. Move on from Wilson, let him go make his mark somewhere else, and who knows? This might just be so crazy, it could work.