Aaron Rodgers commerce will not be straightforward for New York Jets, Green Bay Packers – New York Jets Blog

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers desires to go away the Green Bay Packers and play for the New York Jets. The Jets need that too. The Packers are keen to make a commerce occur.

So what is the holdup?

It is a advanced transaction, maybe unprecedented. You are speaking about an all-time nice quarterback with a large contract. These components alone would make it tough. That he is 39 years outdated and already on document as saying he strongly thought of retirement final month makes it more durable to find out a good value. He might stroll away in a yr. That is why the Jets do not need to half with their 2023 first-round draft decide (thirteenth general). On the identical time, the Packers do not need to commerce a franchise icon for second- and third-day draft picks.

Leverage is within the eye of the beholder. The Jets are seemingly boxed into Rodgers as a result of they do not see a viable possibility on their roster and the quarterback market is depleted. (Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson is offered however carries the nonexclusive franchise tag.)

The Packers are boxed in as a result of they seem dedicated to fourth-year quarterback Jordan Love and wish to transfer on from Rodgers. President Mark Murphy revealed the workforce’s hand not too long ago, talking of Rodgers up to now tense: “He had a great career here.”

One AFC government known as it “a unique situation,” saying he would anticipate the 2 sides to search out widespread floor earlier than ultimatums are issued.

Let’s look at the important thing questions surrounding the Jets-Rodgers-Packers saga:

Is there a way of urgency for all events to make a deal?

Not likely. There are not any monetary deadlines on the close to horizon and the Jets do not start their offseason program till April 17. Precise practices do not begin till late Could. The obligatory minicamp is in mid-June.

“It’s in everyone’s best interest to get it done sooner than later,” stated former NFL government Mike Tannenbaum, now an ESPN front-office analyst. “Typically, you need a deadline. Maybe the offseason program is the first deadline.”

Ideally, the Jets would like to have Rodgers within the constructing subsequent month to get comfy, to start out the method of constructing chemistry with new teammates and to assist with the set up of a brand new offense. On the identical time, it is not doomsday if he isn’t there for the voluntary exercises. In spite of everything, he already has a really feel for the offense, having performed beneath offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett with the Packers.

There is not any assure he’d attend anyway. Rodgers, who has skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason in recent times, was noncommittal on whether or not he’d take part with the Jets, telling “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday that “it’s one step at a time. I’m still in a contract [with the Packers].”

For the Jets, the profit to getting a deal performed before later is peace of thoughts, simply realizing their QB1 is locked up. No stress, no headache.

So when is the primary actual stress level?

It is April 27 — the primary night time of the draft. If it will get up to now, the Jets may have leverage as a result of the Packers determine to need draft-pick compensation that can assist them in 2023. If the Packers have to attend till 2024 to start out reaping the advantages of a commerce, it could possibly be a diminished return, assuming the Jets enhance their document and have a decrease draft decide than thirteenth in 2024.

From a public relations standpoint, it in all probability would not be an amazing search for the Packers. Primarily, they’d be letting probably the most iconic gamers in franchise historical past twist within the wind whereas they go up quick draft capital.

Within the midst of all this, they must decide by Could 1 on Love’s fifth-year possibility (2024), which is $20.3 million, totally assured. It is a sneaky-important deadline. In the event that they decide to Love for 2024, the Packers might attempt to float the concept that it permits them to maintain Rodgers for an additional yr and go to Love in ’24. That will be a troublesome promote, contemplating their glowing feedback about Love and Rodgers’ unwillingness to return. He made it clear within the McAfee interview that he is performed with Green Bay.

Aren’t the Packers getting crushed on the cap by ready?

Under no circumstances. Reality be instructed, there is a monetary profit to ready.

Proper now, Rodgers counts $31.6 million on the wage cap. If the Packers commerce him earlier than June 1, his cap cost balloons to $40.3 million — they usually must carry that for the whole season. In the event that they wait till after June 1 to deal him, the cap hit is unfold out over two seasons — $15.8 million this yr and $24.5 million in 2024. That will give them about $25 million in additional 2023 cap room to enhance different areas of the roster.

In different phrases, if this stare-down drags previous the draft, the Packers may have no motivation to make a commerce earlier than June 1. And in the event that they wait that lengthy, what’s to cease them from delaying till the beginning of coaching camp in late July? It will be a blow to the Jets in the event that they open camp with out their presumptive QB1.

When is the exhausting, gotta-have-it-done-by-then deadline for a commerce?

The primary recreation of the common season (Sept. 10).

Underneath his current contract, Rodgers has a $58.3 million possibility bonus (totally assured) that have to be exercised earlier than the opening recreation. (The precise cash will get doled out in two installments, the latter due by Sept. 30.) It is exhausting to think about the Packers paying that a lot cash to a participant they do not need on the roster. If they do not pay, the cap hit could be astronomical.

May they swallow exhausting, welcome him again and pay the cash? Technically, sure, but it surely’s tough to foresee that occuring.

The probabilities of the standoff reaching this level are extremely unlikely. If it does, the Packers will probably be in harmful territory with no leverage. And, after all, Rodgers’ worth to the Jets could be diminished as a result of he’d be displaying up with no coaching camp. This state of affairs would not make sense for anybody.

What is affordable compensation for Rodgers?

Everyone appears to have an opinion.

If the Jets stay steadfast in retaining their 2023 first-round decide, the 2 groups might want to get inventive to make it work. It might take a agency decide (or picks) in 2023, plus a conditional decide (or picks) in 2024 or 2025. These situations could possibly be based mostly on particular person and workforce efficiency and whether or not Rodgers returns for the 2024 season.

In 2008, the Packers traded Brett Favre to the Jets for a 2009 conditional fourth-round decide that improved to a third-round selection based mostly on enjoying time. If the Jets had made the playoffs, it could’ve gone to a second-rounder. If that they had reached the Tremendous Bowl, it could’ve been a first-rounder. They is likely to be keen to do one thing related for Rodgers.

Tannenbaum, who negotiated the Favre deal for the Jets, stated honest compensation for Rodgers could be a 2023 second-round decide and a 2024 conditional second- or third-round selection.

There’s at all times an opportunity that gamers could possibly be concerned. The Packers might use a large receiver after dropping Allen Lazard to the Jets. The Packers’ Matt LaFleur coached receiver Corey Davis after they had been along with the Tennessee Titans. Davis could possibly be deemed expendable with Lazard’s arrival.

There’s additionally the thought that the Packers, in lieu of a first-round decide, might ask for a participant who was as soon as graded extremely on their draft board. The Jets have a number of gamers who would possibly enchantment to them. With a surplus of defensive ends, maybe Jermaine Johnson — a late first-round decide in 2022 — would do the trick.

A key part within the discussions is the remaining cash on Rodgers’ contract. General, he is due $59.5 million in ensures for 2023, and the Jets virtually actually need the Packers to pay a bit of that. The extra the Packers conform to pay, the extra compensation they’ll obtain within the type of draft picks and, presumably, gamers.

“I still have that fire and I want to play, and I would like to play in New York,” Rodgers stated Wednesday. “It’s just a matter of, you know, getting that done at this point.”

ESPN Packers reporter Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.