The New York Jets are closing in on Aaron Rodgers
On Thursday morning, ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported that the New York Jets feel they are close to landing Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Russini reports “there’s optimism in the Jets’ organization that they are on the brink of landing the future Hall of Fame QB”.
In the wake of an extensive in-person meeting between Aaron Rodgers & New York Jets brass, including owner Woody Johnson, there's optimism in the Jets’ organization that they are on the brink of landing the future Hall of Fame QB, sources close to the situation tell ESPN.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 9, 2023
Russini added more juicy nuggets about how things have progressed. She says the Jets were optimistic about landing Rodgers before they traveled to California for a meeting with him on Tuesday, but owner Woody Johnson still wanted to have an in-person meeting.
“While optimism existed before the California meeting, Woody Johnson felt it was important to meet in person”, Russini tweeted. “Johnson left the meeting excited and satisfied about the potential match.”
While optimism existed before the California meeting, Woody Johnson felt it was important to meet in person, sources said. Johnson left the meeting excited and satisfied about the potential match.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 9, 2023
Regarding what is holding up the trade, Russini said “the Jets and Packers remain engaged in conversations about compensation and contract”. She added that these conversations were already happening before the Jets traveled to California.
As the Jets internally are working under an optimism that this will happen, the Jets and the Packers remain engaged in conversations about compensation and contract, sources said. Those conversation already started before the meeting.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 9, 2023
And so now, we wait to see if the Jets can close a deal to bring a future Hall of Famer from Green Bay to New York.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 9, 2023
We speculated in our morning column that the contract and the potential trade package might be the top two potential reasons the trade has not happened yet, and it seems that is the case.
It was known since the beginning of this process that Rodgers’ expensive and complex contract would require restructuring for a trade to be facilitated. It seems he has clearly agreed to rework the deal, or we would not even be at this point. After that, the Jets and Packers will have to agree upon how they want to divvy up the money between the two sides. These talks could be the final sticking point.
As for the trade package, it is widely believed that New York will not have to part with a first-round pick to acquire Rodgers. We shall see if that is truly the case.
After months of speculation, the Jets’ 2023 quarterback saga might finally be nearing a thunderous conclusion.
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