Aaron Rodgers Has Provided Jets With List Of Free Agent Targets

Kenneth Teape

March 14, 2023

Speculation has run rampant that the New York Jets are working toward making a trade with the Green Bay Packers centered around Aaron Rodgers. There have been reports in recent days that the framework of a deal is done, but there has been nothing officially reported.

There are a lot of hurdles to overcome for the Jets to acquire the future Hall of Famer. His contract is massive, which would lead to some work needing to be done by general manager Joe Douglas to remain cap compliant. As things currently stand, after acquiring safety Chuck Clark from the Baltimore Ravens, the Jets do not have the cap space to also take on Aaron Rodgers.

For the Jets to be able to afford Aaron Rodgers, there are going to have to be other contract restructures and cuts made. In addition to that, New York will have to compensate Green Bay in a trade, likely with draft compensation. How many draft picks will it cost the Jets to land him? Right now, that is anyone’s guess as the Packers don’t have much leverage.

Another hurdle has also been revealed by Diana Russini of ESPN. The Jets have been linked to numerous former Packers in free agency. Some, such as wide receiver Allen Lazard, would make sense. Making sense of having an interest in wide receiver Randall Cobb and tight end Marcedes Lewis is a little tougher.

However, Russini recently cleared things up with a tweet. Aaron Rodgers has reportedly provided the Jets with a wish list of free agents that he wants the team to pursue. His three aforementioned former teammates are on the list in addition to Odell Beckham Jr.

Aaron Rodgers has provided the NY Jets with a wish-list of free agents he would like them to target and acquire, per sources.
It includes Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Marcedes Lewis and….Odell Beckham Jr.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 14, 2023

It makes sense that Aaron Rodgers would want to play with people that he is familiar with. The Jets also employ Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator, who was Aaron Rodgers’ OC with the Packers when he won the MVP award in 2020 and 2021.

It would be a reunion with the Jets if they are able to bring on all of these players. The only real obstacle that will be difficult for the team to overcome is the Beckham signing. He is reportedly seeking a massive contract that pays $20 million annually.

That is not a number that the Jets will be able to accommodate given their current salary cap situation. But, they are too deep into negotiations to acquire Aaron Rodgers now. If landing Beckham will guarantee that he is wearing a Jets jersey for the 2023 season, Douglas will find a way to make it happen.