Star NFL quarterback Aaron Rodger has been traded to the New York Jets, according to multiple outlets. In exchange for their franchise centerpiece, the Green Bay Packers are receiving draft picks.
This trade occurred just days before the NFL draft, concluding a months-long saga as Rodgers tried to force his way out of Green Bay. ESPN detailed the specifics of the trade, writing:
“The Packers agreed Monday to deal quarterback Aaron Rodgers and their 2023 first-round pick (No. 15) and a 2023 fifth-round pick (No. 170) to the Jets for New York’s 2023 first-round pick (No. 13), a 2023 second-round pick (No. 42), a 2023 sixth-round pick (No. 207) and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that becomes a first if Rodgers plays 65% of the plays this season, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.”
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that it was essential to get this deal done before the NFL draft so that the team could begin building for next season. He said:
“It wouldn’t have been the end of the world. But at the same time, I think it would have certainly changed things quite a bit. So, getting it done was important. I just think certainly the capital for this year was very important, certainly more valuable than future stuff, for our football team. So, there were a number of reasons, but that’s why.”
Aaron Rodgers has spent his entire NFL career as a member of the Green Bay Packers, and this is a bittersweet moment for him. Rodgers offered a heartfelt message to fans of the team as he prepares for the next chapter in his career:
“I’m not sure it’s possible to fully express the gratitude that I have to the @packers , our incredible fans, the state of Wisconsin, the thousands of players that I crossed paths with, the incredible men and women who work for the organization, and the amazing people who I got to meet along the way, in one post with 10 pictures, but I hope you read this and feel my heart and soul, filled with love, joy, and peace about my time in green and gold.
“I grew up in Green Bay, drafted at 21, fell in love with the game, met some lifelong friends, and take with me memories that will last a lifetime. I’m grateful to the late Ted Thompson for drafting me, for my head coaches, especially the 13 years with Mike McCarthy, and the last 4 with Matt LaFleur.”
Green Bay already has their next franchise quarterback on the roster, after drafting Jordan Love with a first-round pick just a couple of years ago. That move may have been the one that sent Rodgers over the edge, as he felt that his replacement was being named before he was ready to be usurped as starting quarterback. Now, Love will have an opportunity to show what he has learned from sharing a practice field with the great Aaron Rodgers. The way that he plays will dictate the future of the Green Bay Packers organization, and the same can be said of Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.
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