After weeks of speculation, former NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers is leaving Green Bay for his new home in New York. Here are all the details:
Speculation Ends
Should the Jets have traded for the four-time MVP now that the trade has been made and the compensation is known? Should the Green Bay Packers have negotiated this trade?
It's worth analyzing the deal from all angles, from how this positions the Jets in the AFC to whether the draft compensation and financial burden ($59.5 million for the 2023 season) are worth it. In addition, it is crucial to consider how this momentous trade alters the future for both teams.
Details about El Canje
Jets receive: quarterback Aaron Rodgers, 2023 first-round draft pick (No. 15), 2023 fifth-round draft pick (No. 170).
Packers receive: 2023 first-round draft pick (No. 13), 2023 second-round draft pick (No. 42), 2023 sixth-round draft pick (No. 207), conditional 2024 second-round draft pick that becomes a first-round pick if Rodgers plays 65% of the snaps in 2023.
There are real and serious risks here. The Jets just traded significant draft capital for the right to pay at least $59.5 million for a 39-year-old quarterback who had worn out his welcome in Green Bay and is coming off the worst season of his career. How can it not be risky?
But the point of the game is to win the Super Bowl. Despite having a good roster, winning the Super Bowl in 2023 was not a realistic aspiration for the Jets before acquiring Rodgers. Now it appears that it is.
IT'S OFFICIAL! 🚨
Aaron Rodgers is already the Jets' new QB. 🏈
New York gets Rodgers, pick 15 and a 2023 fifth-rounder. ✈️
Packers receive pick: 13, 42 and 2023 pick 207, plus a conditional 2nd round pick in 2024, this will happen if Rodgers plays 65%... pic.twitter.com/KxU0Xt87R2
- Antonio de Valdés (@adevaldes) April 24, 2023
Analysis of the Exchange
In Rodgers, the Jets get one of the best quarterbacks of all time, but also a player coming off a 39.3 percentage season, which put him between Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson, pretty poor company in 2022, according to the metric rankings.
Perhaps Rodgers' performance was a one-year anomaly, partially driven by the Packers' stubborn lack of investment in the receiving game (despite Christian Watson's second half-season explosion), or perhaps it was just the beginning of a major decline. It's not illogical to think Rodgers has another year or two of strong play, but it's far from a guarantee. That's the gamble the Jets are taking.
For the Packers, this trade represents an opportunity to improve their draft position by attracting new talent to complement their roster. On the other hand, the possibility of achieving a first-round selection in the top 10.
Likewise, this draft capital could be used to acquire other important pieces to bolster the roster for the 2023 season. The most important thing for Green Bay is that the Aaron Rodgers saga has come to an end. Now, the team can continue to build the foundation for a new dynasty.
