Fifteen years after the Green Bay Packers traded legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets, the two teams agreed on another blockbuster deal that sent Aaron Rodgers to New York.
In what ended up being one of the biggest trades in NFL history, Rodgers joined the Jets on April 24, 2023. Let’s revisit the trade and how it has worked out for both teams.
Breaking Down the Aaron Rodgers Trade
Here are the exact trade packages that both teams gave up and which prospects the picks ultimately became.
The Packers received:
- 2023 first-round pick (DE Lukas Van Ness)
- 2023 second-round pick (TE Luke Musgrave)
- 2023 sixth-round pick (K Anders Carlson)
- 2024 second-round pick (traded down to select LB Edgerrin Cooper, S Evan Williams, OL Jacob Monk)
The Jets received:
- QB Aaron Rodgers
- 2023 first-round pick (DE Will McDonald IV)
- 2023 fifth-round pick (traded down for sixth- and seventh-round selections CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse and TE Zack Kuntz, respectively)
Why Did Green Bay Trade Rodgers?
During the 2020 NFL Draft, the Packers shocked the NFL world by selecting Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the No. 26 pick in the first round. While the Packers were preparing for life after Rodgers, the veteran QB responded by winning two more MVP awards, making it tougher to move on and start the Love era.
However, after signing a long-term extension, tensions began to rise between Rodgers and the Packers’ front office. In March 2023, during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers made it clear that he wanted to join the Jets.
Here's Aaron Rodgers telling Pat McAfee that he intends to be a member of the New York Jets in 2023👇#NFLTwitter #TakeFlight #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/86SZAUWoqT
— Bookmakers Review (@BMRReviews) March 15, 2023
After years of struggling to develop quarterbacks, the Jets hoped Rodgers would finally give them a franchise quarterback and help them compete for a Super Bowl. However, just four plays into his Jets debut, the future Hall-of-Famer tore his Achilles.
As Rodgers heads into his second season with New York, his contract discount has allowed the Jets to assemble a powerful roster. The team is looking to break its 13-year postseason drought and win its second Super Bowl title.
For Green Bay, the trade allowed them to hand the reins over to Love, which has worked out well. Also, the team has gotten significantly younger. Through a series of draft trades, Green Bay added six players from the deal and reached the Divisional Round of the 2023 playoffs.
Who Won the Rodgers Trade?
While many fans would argue that the Packers got the better end of the deal, especially considering how few games Rodgers has suited up for the Jets thus far.
However, the situation is more complex. While the Packers have promising players like Van Ness, Cooper, and Musgrave, the Jets also acquired solid pieces, including McDonald and other key role players.
The key factor is that Rodgers hasn’t retired. His willingness to take a pay cut to strengthen the team is significant, as the Jets now boast a very talented roster with a lot of potential.
For the Jets, this trade can’t truly be judged until we see whether Rodgers can lead the team to their first conference title in decades or even the Super Bowl. If either happens, the deal would be a clear win for the organization.
If the Jets aren’t able to go on a deep playoff run led by Rodgers, the Packers will be viewed as the winners of the deal given the success they’ve had through the draft in recent years.
Simply put, a winner has yet to be determined.