24 April 2023 , 14:20
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The New York Jets have touched base with the Green Bay Packers once again as they look to complete the trade of Aaron Rodgers 'this week'.
That's according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, who's claimed that the Jets and the Packers have re-opened talks surrounding Rodgers after movement went stale over the past few weeks. Rodgers expressed his desire to play for the Jets back in March, but remains a Packers player as the NFL Draft approaches.
Rapoport says that the two teams are actively engaging in talks, although a deal isn't imminent at this moment in time. There's hope that a final deal can be agreed this week, allowing full focus to be shared on the NFL Draft that begins on Thursday and any terms finally thrashed out likely to involve selections in this year's process.
After an underwhelming season that ended with no play-off action for Rodgers and the Packers, the quarterback went on a four-day darkness retreat to consider his future. Rodgers considered everything from running it back with the Packers, retiring for good, or moving to a new organisation for the first time in his career.
He settled on the latter, and revealed his intentions to play for the Jets and secure a trade away from the Packers in an interview with the Pat McAfee Show. Rodgers only signed a three-year extension last March, but the Packers supported his decision from the off.
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In previous years, the Packers have deflected any trade talk with Rodgers as much as possible, but this time around they were on board with his request. There is full confidence in back-up quarterback and first round pick from 2020, Jordan Love becoming the starter ahead of the 2023 season, and trading Rodgers could allow for some valuable picks in the draft.
Rodgers is to become the perfect mentor for young QB Zach Wilson (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)It will also save them a huge portion of their 2023 salary cap, with Rodgers being the most paid player in the NFL until Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts signed a new deal this offseason. But despite the green light being given by all parties involved, the deal has gone quiet throughout April.
Talks have now picked up again, and the Jets are desperate to finalise the trade and officially announce Rodgers as the new face of their franchise. It'll also allow the Packers to completely move on, and focus on the post-Rodgers era as a collective.
It is set to be one of the biggest trades in recent times, with Tom Brady's move from New England Patriots to Tampa Bay Buccaneers still one of the biggest moves in NFL history. Rodgers is keen to win another MVP award before the end of his career, and could be the missing piece to end the Jets' unwanted Play-Off drought.