A deal for Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been agreed upon for the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for excitement on the Jets’ side.
According to Dianna Russini of ESPN, Jets owner Woody Johnson and the team feel there is “optimism that they are on the brink of landing the future Hall of Fame QB.” The report comes after Johnson and a contingent of the Jets front office traveled to California to meet with the 4x NFL MVP. As part of her report, Russini later explained that a deal for the quarterback was being discussed between the Jets and Packers.
Conversations began between New York and Green Bay well before the meeting between the player took place. As part of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, a player currently signed to a team cannot speak to another unless his current team gives permission. The Packers reportedly allowed New York to begin those conversations this week.
Rodgers is considered the top quarterback available to teams this offseason. The top free agent quarterback, Derek Carr, has already signed a four-year deal with the New Orleans Saints this past week.
But the Packers’ quarterback has been “Plan A” for New York all along. Now the question of compensation and and updated contract will be the main talking points over the next few days and weeks ahead. Zack Rosenblatt of the Athletic also reported that Johnson would “prefer” to not have to pay Rodgers’ current cap hit. Rodgers is set to make $59 million in 2023 but has repeatedly said he’d be open to a restructure that would allow his team to continue to build a championship contender.
Still this leaves current negotiations with the Packers in a delicate state. Rodgers has not publicly announced his future decisions. He could decide to stay with Green Bay, retire, or go elsewhere. With that uncertainty, it means New York will need to stay patient as they try and get the final piece to what they believe is a championship roster.
Throughout the 2022-23 season, New York looked like a team that was just a quarterback away from truly contending in the top of the AFC. It seems they are close to making sure that problem doesn’t happen again in 2023-24.
For more New York Jets news, turn to AMNY.com
Read more: Ryan Lindgren’s Return Boosts Rangers’ Playoff Push
