Aaron Rodgers Tried Recruiting Calais Campbell to New York Jets
Analysis 4/20/23
Aaron Rodgers still isn't with the New York Jets, but he's tried recruiting players to join him in the Big Apple anyway. During an appearance on "The Crew" podcast Thursday, Calais Campbell said Rodgers texted him to come to New York and help Rodgers win a Super Bowl with the Jets.
Campbell, who ultimately signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, said he was tempted to take Rodgers up on the offer.
"It was appealing to have him text you, but I kept getting a feeling that Atlanta was a special place ... It was a tough decision," Campbell said.
As for Rodgers, there has been little movement in trade talks between the Jets and Green Bay Packers. Rodgers announced his intention to play for the Jets this season on March 15, but trade talks between the two sides have stalled.
However, Jets general manager Joe Douglas has remained confident Rodgers will be the Jets starting quarterback this season. At an appearance on April 8 for WFAN Sports Radio’s “Morning Show with Boomer & Gio,” former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason asked Douglas about Rodgers.
“He’s gonna be here,” Douglas said, which earned a massive cheer from the audience.
Trade talks reportedly came to a grinding halt because the Jets want protections on future draft capital. During his March 15 announcement, Rodgers indicated he was leaning toward retiring this offseason but changed his mind after his February "isolation retreat." Those comments caused the Jets to ask the Packers for protections on draft capital in the 2024 and 2025 NFL Draft if Rodgers retires after the 2023 season.
Talks have centered around the Jets trading a second-round pick in the 2023 and 2024 NFL Draft for Rodgers. However, New York wants the 2024 pick to be protected by team performance escalators.
This offseason, the Jets have already made an effort to surround Rodgers with players and coaches he knows. The team hired Rodgers' one-time offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and signed former teammates WR Allen Lazard and QB Tim Boyle.