After six weeks of waiting, it’s official: Aaron Rodgers is leaving the Green Bay Packers and heading to the bright lights – and huge expectations – of the Big Apple.
The New York Jets finally acquired the NFL’s four-time best player on Monday.
In the end, the Jets receive Rodgers, the number 15 pick in the next draft and a 5th round pick in 2023. In return, the Packers get the 13th pick in the next draft, 2nd and 6th round picks in 2023, as well as a conditional 2024 2nd-round pick that will become a 1st-round pick if Rodgers makes at least 65% of plays next season.
Rodgers, 39, spent a few days in February reflecting on his life and playing future during an isolated retirement in Oregon, as fans and media speculated on what was to come for the star quarter.
He came out of it, then thought a little more before deciding, on March 10, that he intended to play again … but for the Jets.
Then Rodgers, along with the sports world and fans, waited — and waited — for the Packers and Jets to finally reach a deal.
“I made it clear that my intention was to play and my intention was to play for the New York Jets,” Rodgers quipped during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on YouTube and Sirius XM on the 15th. March.
The Jets sent a contingent including owner Woody Johnson, coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas to Rodgers’ home in Southern California in early March. A few days later, Rodgers decided to continue his career with the Jets, in one of the hottest markets in America.
The negotiations, which had lasted for several weeks, sometimes seemed to be at an impasse, to the point where many wondered when, or even if the exchange would succeed.
“We’re anxious,” Johnson admitted to reporters at the league’s annual meeting on March 28. I think we are optimistic for the future. But we have a plan and we are ready to stick to it. But I don’t think anyone is freaking out at this point.”
Still, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst took his time as he wanted to receive his “fair value” for the quarterback.
“He’s a top player, so it’s important to get top picks in exchange for top players,” he said in late March.
Gutekunst explained last month that he tried unsuccessfully to speak to Rodgers several times during the offseason before quarterback reps told him the star player was asking to be traded.
Rodgers and Gutekunst met shortly after the end of the season. According to Gutekunst, the two men had agreed to talk to each other again.
“The talks never took place,” Gutekunst explained. So there came a time when we had to make decisions. We went through his representatives to try to talk to him [about] the direction we were going to take with our team. And at that time, they informed us that he wanted to transfer to the Jets. »
The trade paves the way for 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love, who could take the starting quarterback spot in Green Bay.
Rodgers’ arrival in New York will create an interesting quarterback duel in the American East, with Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) and Mac Jones (New England Patriots) .