According to reports from Pro Football Network, the deal is done. After spending 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers would play for New York Jets.
Negotiations between the Packers and the Jets have reportedly been ongoing for days, and Rodgers met with the team on Monday to facilitate a move away from Green Bay. While the Packers have said they will only negotiate with the Jets, everything ultimately hinges on Rodgers’ decision.
The NFL world is abuzz with speculation as to where Aaron Rodgers, one of the league’s most enigmatic and talented quarterbacks, will end up in 2023. The situation has reached a boiling point, with the Packers desperate to rid themselves of him and the Jets eager to secure his services.
Rodgers has always been a mercurial figure, taking pride in keeping his intentions and actions shrouded in mystery. He has amassed a considerable amount of power over the years, using it to dictate the narrative and control the flow of information about his decisions.
As the new league year begins and his massive contract for 2023 lands officially on the Green Bay books, the time for Rodgers to make a decision has come and gone. It is expected that he will announce his plans tomorrow or Wednesday, with silence reigning until then under the apparent mandate that he alone controls the information.
Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year while catching passes from Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White, tweeted his excitement about the potential acquisition.
Other media outlets have been more cautious, with ESPN reporting that the Jets are “cautiously optimistic” about the trade. Nevertheless, there was optimism last week when the Jets visited Aaron Rodgers in California, and the team has already restructured contracts to save cap space.
The two primary options seem to be the Jets or retirement, with the ultra-awkward option of returning to Green Bay also on the table. Retirement would cost him nearly $60 million and relegate him to “special guest star” status for the Tom Brady Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend. Given these factors, it is not surprising if Aaron Rodgers decides to become officially a Jet by the middle of the week.
It remains to be seen whether the trade will be made official, as no trades for players under contract can be finalized until the first day of the NFL league year. But if the reports are true, Aaron Rodgers could be sporting the green and white of the Jets in the coming season.