Nearly two weeks after Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told the NFL world that his intention is to play for the New York Jets in 2023, there has seemingly been no visible progress toward a trade. On Monday, Jets head coach Robert Saleh sat down with the media at the NFL owners eeting in Arizona and, of course, was asked for an update on the current situation.
Robert Saleh Dropped Hints About the Potential Aaron Rodgers Trade
It was always going be an interesting situation for Saleh when he faced the media on Monday. Straight off the bat, Saleh made it clear he would have “nothing” to say about a player who was under contract on another team. However, while Saleh did not address Rodgers by name, we can read some interesting things into his comments to subsequent questions.
When asked about the urgency of the situation, Saleh told reporters that if a veteran QB “has great rapport with the coordinator, there’s no urgency.” The Jets recently hired former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their OC for 2023. Rodgers also made it abundantly clear that he has a lot of respect for Hackett during his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
Saleh continued along that line, referencing that there was no “panic” to get the deal done and that “sure, eventually they will figure something out.” He did say that if it was up to him, things would have been done a while ago because, as a coach, that is what he would like.
MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
An interesting wrinkle to the whole process is that Saleh and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur are good friends from their time in San Francisco. However, Saleh told reporters that he and LaFleur have “respected the process” and kept their conversations to their personal life.
All told, Saleh did not tell us very much in terms of new information when he spoke to the media at the AFC coaches’ breakfast. Perhaps the biggest update was Saleh saying Zach Wilson will be the Jets’ No. 2 quarterback in 2023. Again, nothing groundbreaking, but a pretty clear indication that the Jets head coach is planning to have Rodgers on his roster next season.
Later in the day, when Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas spoke to the media, he echoed that sentiment. Douglas told reporters that “there have been productive conversations” but that “there is not a ton of urgency” and “there’s no hard deadline in trying to get a deal done.” Douglas also added that pursuing Lamar Jackson would be the Jets negotiating in bad faith, all but ruling them out of any discussion with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Jets Appear in No Hurry To Trade for Rodgers
While there was a lack of revolutionary updates from Saleh, his message toed the line that is widely expected. The Jets are willing to wait out the Packers and will not overpay what they see as the right value for Rodgers. On Friday, Adam Schefter reported that talks have stalled between the two sides.
“There’s been a standoff with Green Bay wanting more than the Jets are offering,” Schefter said. “The Jets feel like they’re offering a lot. The Packers feel like they’re not offering enough, and the two sides are left at a standstill.”
The problem for the Packers is that they have no leverage right now. No other team appears to be interested in adding Rodgers, and the Jets are not under any kind of pressure, as Saleh reinforced. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on Rodgers’ contract and a fully guaranteed $58.3 million option bonus that has to be paid before Week 1.
When that option bonus is paid, the Packers will take on another $58.3 million in dead money commitments. They could try to negotiate with Rodgers, but if his intention is to be with the Jets, why would he help the Packers with the ultimatum his contract structure provides?
What the Packers could be waiting out is the June 1 deadline. From June 2 onward, the Packers’ dead money situation looks very different. If they trade Rodgers before June 1, they are left holding the bill for around $36 million in dead money. In contrast, if they trade him on June 2 or later, Green Bay will carry just under $13 million in dead money in 2023 and then the remaining $24.5 million in 2024.
With that in mind and the Jets’ seeming lack of urgency, it would not be a surprise if this process drags out into June or July. However, it seems very unlikely the Packers will enter the season with Rodgers on their roster. The question is more a matter of when than if at this point.