Aaron Rodgers – the NFL’s four-time Most Valuable Player – will join the New York Jets after agreeing to a trade deal with the Green Bay Packers.
The quarterback said in March that he plans to end his 18-year tenure with the Packers and join the Jets.
Rodgers, 39, spent his entire NFL career with Green Bay, helping them win the Super Bowl in 2011.
“I know this, he’s always going to be a figure,” team general manager Brian Gutekenst said.
“I have a lot of respect for Aaron and the person he is. He’s done a lot for this organization.”
The deal was delayed as the teams negotiated draft pick compensation because Rodgers was still under contract with Green Bay, who signed an extension last year.
Along with Rodgers, they will give the Jets a fifth-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, which begins Thursday.
The teams have also agreed to switch spots in the first round of the draft, with the Packers now holding the 13th overall pick and the Jets holding the 15th.
In addition, the Jets will give Green Bay picks in the second and sixth rounds, as well as a second-round pick in the 2024 draft that could become a first-round pick if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the Jets’ offensive snaps this coming season.
“He will be missed,” Gutekunst added. Players like this don’t come around often.
“But we’re very excited about where we’re going. It all has to be finalized to get it done. But we have a lot of appreciation for it.”
Gutekunst said the contracts should be signed Tuesday.
“We have been working on it for some time,” he said. “It would have been tough for both teams to get ahead of the draft.”
Green Bay selected Rodgers with the 24th pick of the 2005 draft and he spent his first three years as Brett Favre’s backup.
Rodgers is now first in franchise history for touchdown passes (475) and second in passing yards (59,055) behind Favre.
Coincidentally, the 2008 trade of Favre to the Jets allowed Rodgers to become the Packers’ starting quarterback and was named MVP as Green Bay defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 45.
Rodgers was then named the season MVP four times between 2011 and 2021, but has had a strained relationship with Packers management since they traded for Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 draft. of
The 24-year-old, who like Rodgers began his NFL career with three seasons as a backup, is now expected to replace him as Green Bay’s starting quarterback.
The Jets, who have the NFL’s longest playoff drought (12 years) and haven’t had a winning season since 2015, were looking for a new starter after losing confidence with 23-year-old Zach Wilson last season. , which was the number two draft. Pick in 2021.
They turned their attention to Rodgers after 31-year-old Derek Carr joined the New Orleans Saints following his release by the Las Vegas Raiders.
