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Last year, when the Broncos hired former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to serve as the team’s new head coach, many thought the Broncos would land quarterback Aaron Rodgers next. Many also consider it no coincidence that, just hours after Rodgers announced his intention to stay in Green Bay, the Broncos reached a deal for quarterback Russell Wilson.
This year, with Hackett becoming the Jets’ new offensive coordinator, speculation has already begun that, like his Green Bay predecessor, Rodgers will be bound for Broadway.
But will he join the Jets? First, Rodgers has to decide if he wants to play. Second, he has to decide he doesn’t want to play for the Packers. Third, he must choose the Jets as his destination. Fourth, the Jets and Packers need to find an acceptable deal. Fifth, Rodgers and the Jets must negotiate an acceptable contract.
After the first three, the last two should be fairly easy. The Packers, who will be missing out on nearly $60 million in cash and cap bonds, surely won’t want a big hit for a player who may be just a year old.
Fifteen years ago, they secured a fourth-round pick for Brett Favre, with the possibility of him moving up to a first-round pick. Once Rodgers decides he wants to play, he wants to leave Green Bay, and he wants to play for the Jets, the Packers won’t be able to make unreasonable demands.
Ultimately, the best the Packers can get is two picks. One in 2023 and another in 2025, if he plays in 2024.
When it comes to Rodgers’ contract, the reality is that he already owes $58.3 million, fully guaranteed, for 2023. Although he said «there should be some adjustments» to his contract, that doesn’t does not mean that he would take a penny less. what is due to him. It either. This means payments should be configured to better manage caps for 2023, 2024 and beyond.
Finally, the third question on Rodgers’ list has an interesting wrinkle. Earlier this week, Rodgers suggested the media vilified him under orders from Big Pharma – Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson. The Jets are owned by Johnson & Johnson heir Woody Johnson.
Would working for Johnson’s team be a non-starter? Or would it just ignore the connection? Either way, he’s sure to be asked about it at an introductory press conference that probably wouldn’t have him utter the word «excited» (or some variation of it) more than 40 times.