Jets owner Woody Johnson loans private plane for Aaron Rodgers meeting as NY goes big for former MVP
Aaron Rodgers has been involved in many trade rumors during the 2023 NFL offseason. His future with the Green Bay Packers appears to be in serious jeopardy as both sides are reportedly exploring their options.
The New York Jets are one of the teams most prominently mentioned as a potential landing spot for Rodgers. That is if the Packers do trade away their superstar quarterback.
The rumors have recently intensified after the Packers reportedly gave permission to the Jets to speak with Rodgers about a potential trade. Permission is required because he's still currently under contract in Green Bay. This avoids tampering violations.
Apparently, speculative talks progressed quickly into realistic possibilities as the Jets are reportedly flying out representatives to meet with him in person.
The New York Jets have flown on Woody Johnson’s private plane to California to meet with Aaron Rodgers in person per sources. They land soon. (also reported by @RobDemovsky @DanGrazianoESPN)
The Green Bay Packers have given New York permission to speak with Rodgers.
Jets owner Woody Johnson reportedly sent his private plane with team representatives to have a sit-down with Aaron Rodgers.
They are visiting him at his home in California, where he's currently located during the offseason. They are likely speaking to him on how he feels about potentially becoming the quarterback of the Jets, as well as his willingness to restructure his massive contract.
What will it take for the New York Jets to acquire Aaron Rodgers?
There are several hurdles that need to be cleared before the Jets can realistically add Aaron Rodgers to their roster. They are clearly interested in the superstar quarterback as they search for a veteran replacement for Zach Wilson.
Rodgers is almost definitely their best option for the short term, but it's more complicated than for most other quarterbacks, such as the free agent class.
Rodgers would first need to approve the Jets as a landing spot as he has a full no-trade clause in his current contract. The Packers would also need to be willing to trade him.
It's unclear what they are looking for in exchange for the former NFL MVP, but at least one first-round pick is likely to be the starting point. Rodgers has been named MVP in two of the last three years, so they have leverage.
Where the Jets will have some of their own leverage in a trade situation is Aaron Rodgers' massive contract. This will work against the Packers a bit in trade negotiations as he comes with an intense salary cap commitment. He's owed nearly $100 million over the next two years of his current deal.
Rodgers recently claimed he'd be willing to restructure his contract in the right situation. This will likely be the main topic of conversation when Jets representatives meet with him face-to-face.
If he's willing to do so in a way that works with their salary cap situation, trade negotiations can begin. If they feel that the Packers' asking price is reasonable, Rodgers could realistically be a Jet in 2023.