Green Bay Packers Quarterback Rodgers Linked to New York Jets

The Green Bay Packers are in the midst of another tumultuous offseason, and it could get wilder in the coming months. According to NBC Sports' Peter King in this week's Football Morning in America column, the New York Jets could pursue quarterback Aaron Rodgers via trade.

Football Morning in America is up! 🙏🏼🤓🛫
In my column this week:

🏈 What Brock Purdy heard about the fans in Philly
✨ The second-stringers tasked with Burrow's safety
🦅 The throw Hurts didn’t know he could make
🛣️ My whirlwind weekend on the road https://t.co/UaIvBoKAH3
— Peter King (@peter_king) January 23, 2023

Rodgers has become the subject of trade speculation in recent weeks following the completion of the Packers' disappointing 8-9 regular season. At 39 years old, time is running out for Rodgers, and the Packers appear in line for a slow but steady rebuild to contention. Given supposed Rodgers successor Jordan Love is in the final year of his rookie contract, now could be the Packers' best chance to transition to a new era, particularly if they can land a major asset haul in a trade for Rodgers. King posits the Packers will demand at least two first-round picks.

Rodgers is coming off what may be his worst season as a starter, setting career lows in passing yards per game (217.4) and passer rating (91.1). He signed a massive contract with the Packers last offseason that made him comfortably the highest-paid quarterback in the league at an average of $50+ million per year. The Packers would absorb significant dead money by parting ways with Rodgers, but whatever team acquires him could have him at relatively modest cap numbers for at least a couple seasons.

That being said, adding a veteran quarterback via a splashy trade can be a risky proposition. Matthew Stafford lifted the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl in 2021, but the team plummeted to the league's basement in 2022. The Denver Broncos were hoping for a quick turnaround when they acquired Russell Wilson before the 2022 season, but their offense stumbled to the fewest points in the league. If the Jets want to risk it all by acquiring Rodgers, they better make sure they have the talent to support him.