Has Aaron Rodgers gone AWOL on Jets? NFL insider explains delay in massive trade
On the second day of the legal tampering period, Aaron Rodgers is yet to be traded to the New York Jets and is still a Green Bay Packer.
The Jets have been connected to Rodgers all off-season, and the Packers are reportedly ready to move on from him, but Rodgers is holding everything up.
The star quarterback is still deciding if he wants to be traded, return to Green Bay, or retire. As the off-season officially began on Monday, both teams would like to know his decision to continue making off-season moves for the season.
NFL insider Andrew Brandt tweeted why there could be a potential delay in the trade process between the two teams.
"His contract has an option clause, $58.3M, which can only be exercised starting on March 17th. It also adds a year to the contract, 2025. It shouldn't hold things up, assuming the Jets will exercise it, but there could be re-working."
One potential item holding up a Rodgers trade:
His contract has an option clause, $58.3M, which can only be exercised starting on March 17th.
It also adds a year to the contract, 2025.
It shouldn't hold things up, assuming the Jets will exercise it, but there could be re-working.
There may certainly be a restructured contract upon Rodgers being traded, but like Brandt said, the Jets will likely opt for another year of having him under contract for the 2025 season.
New York Jets are making all the right moves to acquire Aaron Rodgers
The New York Jets have made many moves this off-season to clear the way to acquire Rodgers.
They first hired QB's former offensive coordinator from 2019-2021, Nathaniel Hackett, on January 28.
Then, according to NBC Sports Columnist Peter King, Jets owner Woody Johnson said that he would "happily" give up two first-round picks to acquire Rodgers.
According to @peter_king, it is believed the #Packers would want 2 first round picks in any potential trade for QB Aaron Rodgers.
King says #Jets owner Woody Johnson would “happily” pay that price and the $48.3M cap hit over the next 2 seasons. https://t.co/hx2HMSZI1g
The Jets were then eventually given permission to speak with Rodgers and they flew out on a private jet immediately to speak with him in person.
New York started clearing cap space. They restructured the contracts of guard Laken Tomlinson, cornerback DJ Reed, and tight end Tyler Conklin last week, creating $15.2 million in cap space.
They also released wide receiver Braxton Berrios, creating $5 million in cap space after he didn't agree to a pay cut.
Per NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Jets are currently trying to reach a deal with Rodgers former wide receiver, Allen Lazard.
Jets are actively working to reach an agreement with Packers’ free-agent WR Allen Lazard, per league sources. There is another team involved, and no final decision, but the Jets are trying to reunite Lazard and OC Nathaniel Hackett. https://t.co/rkzX17o5do
The Jets have shown that they are all in on Rodgers, who is still undecided and not giving anyone a clue what he's going to do.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Andrew Brandt and H/T Sportskeeda