Dan GrazianoESPN staff writer3 minutes to read
Stephen A: Rodgers will make the Jets a title contender
says Stephen A. Smith says he believes Aaron Rodgers will make the Jets a Super Bowl contender if the Packers’ quarterback is traded to New York.
Some of those talks were expected to take place on Tuesday, the sources said, but it was not clear until Tuesday morning if they would lead to a deal.
Rodgers has not made any statements yet about what he intends to do this season. He could still decide to retire or stay in Green Bay. But if he still wants to play and he and the Packers agree it’s time to play elsewhere, the Jets seem like a realistic option.
If the Jets were to talk directly to Rodgers, they and he would have to get the Packers’ permission, since he’s still under contract with Green Bay. So the discussions Rodgers is having with the Jets at least indicate some openness on the part of the Packers to the idea of trading him there.
But there are potential complications to a deal, including Rodgers’ outsized and complex contract, which may have to be addressed to ensure both teams comply with the salary cap by the start of the league year next Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Rodgers is under contract until 2024 for $108.8 million. Technically, the contract signed last March extends to 2026, but 2025 and 2026 are considered “fictitious” years for cap purposes. His deal includes $59.5 million fully guaranteed this season, with $58.3 million coming in the form of an option bonus, payable before the start of the regular season.
With his bonus money split up, Rodgers won’t snag the Jets’ cover. He would tally $15.8 million in 2023 and $32.5 million in 2024, which is appropriate for a player of his stature.
The Packers will be hit with a “dead” charge of $40.3 million in 2023 — nearly $9 million more than he would have figured if he had been on the list.
The Jets had expressed interest in Derek Carr, meeting him twice, but considered him a backup option. Sources said Rodgers has always been their top priority in the quarterback market. Carr ended up agreeing to a four-year contract worth up to $150 million with the New Orleans Saints.
The Jets had their eye on Rodgers from the start of the season, when owner Woody Johnson told reporters he would be “absolutely” willing to make a major investment in a quarterback. Team officials have made it clear in recent weeks that Zach Wilson, drafted No. 2 overall in 2021, is not considered a starting option. Their hope is to develop him into a backup role.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini and Rob Dimowski contributed to this report.
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