New York Jets GM on QB Aaron Rodgers: 'He's Gonna Be Here'
News 4/8/23
There still is no formal news or an impending announcement on the Aaron Rodgers-to-the-New York Jets trade, but Friday night Jets general manager Joe Douglas expressed some impromptu optimism that the deal will get done.
At an appearance for WFAN Sports Radio's "Morning Show with Boomer & Gio," former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason asked Douglas about Rodgers coming to the Big Apple.
"He's gonna' be here," Douglas said to big cheers from the audience.
Rodgers announced his intention to play for the team on March 15, but the sticking point continues to be compensation for the Green Bay Packers quarterback.
The two sides reportedly are hung up on additional protections for future draft-pick compensation in case 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. The NFL Draft is April 27-29.
At the NFL owners’ meetings last week, Jets coach Robert Saleh remained confident Rodgers would be his quarterback in 2023. Douglas added that the two sides had had productive conversations, but there was no sense of urgency to get a deal done.
“I’m not hitting the panic button,” Saleh said. “I’m confident that things are going to work out. You guys know me. I’m a very positive person and optimistic, so I’m confident that things will go the way we’re hoping. But at the same time, it’s not going to eat at me.”
There’s no deadline for Rodgers to get traded, but the Jets begin offseason activities on April 17, which run through the middle of June. Still, Saleh didn’t commit to Rodgers needing to be on the roster by then.
When Rodgers finally does arrive, he will be greeted by a few familiar faces from Green Bay. His one-time offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was hired in January. The Jets also signed former teammates WR Allen Lazard and QB Tim Boyle.