The Jets Are Nuts If They Trade The Farm For Aaron Rodgers
Can’t do it. Just doesn’t make any sense. The Jets might have interest in Aaron Rodgers. Who wouldn’t in terms of quarterback needy teams? However, I’d caution those who think Rodgers will just come for free. Not only is Rodgers’ contract detrimental, but we’re also talking about giving up significant draft pick compensation as well. The Jets are out of their minds if they trade for Aaron Rodgers and that should be the case for any team that isn’t a quarterback away from winning the Super Bowl.
The Nathaniel Hackett hire has only fueled those rumors. The Packers’ preference to move on from Rodgers and send him packing to an AFC team has created more than just smoke. It does feel like if the Jets want Rodgers, they can certainly have him for the right price. I just can’t fathom how all of this is worth is.
Rodgers, 39, is a premier talent but does he put the Jets over the top? Is he worth the equivalent of the Russell Wilson trade? Didn’t NFL fans learn this lesson the hard way? Seattle won that trade running away. Green Bay will do the same if they’re able to convince someone to do the same in the future Rodgers trade. Rodgers shouldn’t command two first rounds + at this stage of his career.
Forget about the stats for a second. Rodgers has flirted with retirement before and will do it again wherever he goes. Isn’t there a worse-case scenario out there where the Jets give up a haul and then Rodgers retires after one year in New York? How can you justify giving up anything more than a third rounder here?
I know what you’re thinking. But it’s Aaron Rodgers! They said the same thing about Russell Wilson before that. The history of the NFL shows over and over again that once a quarterback changes teams, it usually doesn’t go well. Drew Brees and Payton Manning are about the only exceptions over the last 20 years.
The Jets aren’t just a quarterback away. While the roster has improved from being bad for so many years, it’s still a mediocre group at best. Rodgers doesn’t take the Jets from being better than a healthy Dolphins group or the Bills. Given New England’s dominance over the Jets, it’s hard to imagine they’re better than the Patriots even with Rodgers.
The Jets need to continue to build this puppy the right way. It’s still a team that’s 12 pieces away. There’s no such thing as halfway crooks. Adding Rodgers’ cap hit to the books would basically take away the flexibility to add to it via free agency. Giving up the picks necessary to build that championship roster can’t be a consideration.
The Jets are out of their minds if they go all in for Aaron Rodgers. We’re not talking about a team like San Francisco that truly just needs a quarterback. This is still a last place team that needs way more help than Rodgers to win the Super Bowl. Impeding on that young core for an all in move doesn’t make sense for the way the Jets are currently constructed. Just say no, Jets.
