Aaron Rodgers trade between Jets, Packers reportedly close to done

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the expected trade involving Aaron Rodgers landing with the New York Jets is about finished.  Well, I guess this was the expected outcome.  I had thought for a while that since they haven’t officially agreed to the trade, that there was a chance that the trade never got done since both sides have known of Aaron Rodgers‘ plans for what seems like months now.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN hinted that the trade itself is about done:

"“A lot of this deal, I’m told, remains pretty much done,” Fowler said."

He explained further:

"“They’re close, just they have some of those draft compensation considerations that they have to shake out. Most people I talked to around the league believe closer to the draft, maybe even on day one, when teams are getting on the clock pretty soon that this will shake out. But I’m told the Jets have been planning with their draft prep to have their No. 13 overall pick. That’s not a major consideration to have to give up to the Packers in a trade.”"

So, it doesn’t look like the New York Jets will be giving up their first-round pick after all, which is the right move.  Rodgers, turning 40 in 2023, is not likely to play more than two years, at most.  He also was not his usual efficient self in 2022, so that could be a consideration to make as well.

Green Bay appears very eager to move on from Rodgers to then give Jordan Love, their 2020 first-round pick, a chance to prove himself.  The breakup seemed inevitable for a while, and it seems to be nearing an end.

The Jets should be one of the top teams in the AFC after this trade goes through.  They’ve got a very good core of offensive skill players and a stout defense.  Both qualities of the Jets’ roster aren’t exactly things that Aaron Rodgers had recently on his Packers’ teams.

I’m very interested to see how the four-time MVP performs in a new home.  Maybe he finds a new energy to keep playing past 2023.  Maybe he doesn’t like the change and decides to hang it up after one year.

Either way, the trade seems finished.