“Aaron Rodgers Watch” could soon be coming to an end.
That’s according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who believes the Packers and Jets will iron out a deal to send the four-time NFL MVP to New York “sooner than people think,” stressing the alleged disparity between teams has been overblown.
“I don’t think things between the Packers and Jets are in nearly as bad a place as some seem to believe they are,” Breer wrote Thursday.
“I think it [the deal] could happen as early as this week, and certainly will get done before the draft.”
Trade talks between the Jets and Packers have been at a standstill for some time, with ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio reporting Wednesday that Green Bay has backed off from wanting New York’s 2023 first-round pick as part of the package for Rodgers, 39.
The Jets viewed the Packers’ demands as “irrational” and “unreasonable,” according to Florio.
He then suggested the Jets could give up a 2023 second-rounder in the deal, as well as a 2024 second-rounder, with the possibility of that pick turning into a first if Rodgers meets certain goalposts in his first season out of Green Bay.
Despite the apparent frostiness elsewhere — ahem, Rodgers and the Packers front office — Breer believes there is a path forward due to existing “relationships in place.”
Jets general manager Joe Douglas has a bond with his Green Bay counterpart, Brian Gutekunst, “from their time coming up as young road scouts.”
Robert Saleh and Packers coach Matt LaFleur are longtime friends, with the Jets coach serving as the best man at LaFleur’s wedding.
“So any raw feelings between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, I think, are manageable, because of the relationships in place,” Breer reported.
Rodgers revealed his intentions to play for the Jets during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier this month.
The Packers are now readying for the Jordan Love era in Green Bay — three years after they selected the former Utah State quarterback 26th overall.
