Sources: Packers trading QB Aaron Rodgers to New York Jets

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a four-time MVP with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, is apparently heading to the Big Apple.

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The New York Jets have agreed to a deal to acquire Rodgers, 39, from Green Bay, ESPN and The Associated Press reported, citing sources with “knowledge of the deal.”

As part of the deal, Green Bay and New York will swap picks in the first round of this year’s draft, according to WBAY-TV. Green Bay will draft at No. 13, while the Jets will have the 15th pick. The Packers will also receive a second-round pick, a sixth-round pick and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that can become a first-round pick if Rodgers plays 65% of the Jets’ plays this season, The Athletic reported.

The trade marks the second time the Packers have traded a franchise quarterback in the twilight of his career. In 2009, Green Bay traded Brett Favre to the Jets for a conditional fourth-round draft choice.

During his 18 seasons in Green Bay, Rodgers led the Packers to a Super Bowl title and was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com.

In the regular season, Rodgers passed for 59,055 yards and threw for 475 touchdowns. He added 5,894 yards and 45 touchdowns in the postseason.

It was the second straight offseason that Rodgers considered whether to continue playing or retire.

He ultimately decided to return for his 19th season after coming to an agreement with Packers officials that he would play for another team, The Athletic reported.

According to the sports website, Jets officials met with Rodgers in Southern California and worked out a deal to bring him to the New York area.

Since Joe Namath led the Jets to their only Super Bowl victory in January 1969, the team has struggled to find another marquee quarterback, The New York Times reported. The team has used first-round picks for Richard Todd in 1976, Ken O’Brien in 1983, Chad Pennington in 2000, Mark Sanchez in 2009, Sam Darnold in 2018 and Zach Wilson in 2021, according to the newspaper.

Todd led the Jets to the AFC Championship game during the 1982 season, while Sanchez led the team to back-to-back championship game appearances in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The Jets also reached the AFC title game during the 1998 season.

Although Namath gave Rodgers his blessing to wear No. 12 with the Jets, Rodgers is expected to wear No. 8, which he wore during his college days at Cal, ESPN reported.

Thanks to the deal, Green Bay will have 11 picks heading into the draft later this week, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. They will now have one pick in the first round, two in the second, one each in the third through sixth rounds, and four in the seventh, according to the newspaper.

Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst said in a news conference on Monday that it was “unfortunate and disappointing” that he had not talked with Rodgers since the season ended. He added that he was “really excited” to move forward with Jordan Love, who has been Rodgers’ backup for the past three seasons.

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