Are Jets setting themselves up for failure with Aaron Rodgers?
At first glance, it's easy to understand why the New York Jets are so enamored with trading for Aaron Rodgers, who announced Wednesday on the "The Pat McAfee Show" that he intends to play for the Jets. The only hang-up, Rodgers said, is trade compensation.
In theory, Rodgers -- a future Hall of Famer -- should be the missing piece for an up-and-coming young team that already has a strong foundation, but the Jets might get more than they bargained for. Instead of solidifying themselves as Super Bowl contenders, the Jets could be be setting themselves up as, well, the same old New York Jets.
New York already has a great defense in place that boasts Sauce Gardner, the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year and a rising star. The offense has serious talent at the skill positions with wide receiver Garrett Wilson, the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year, and running back Breece Hall. The only thing the Jets are missing is an answer at quarterback.
In a perfect world, it would be Rodgers, but things rarely work out perfectly with him or for the Jets, who haven't played in the postseason since 2010.
From the beginning, the entire process has involved Rodgers making it about him. He reportedly was calling the shots on wanting the Jets to bring in people he liked before he even committed to the team.
What has he wanted?
Per ESPN's Diana Russini, skill positions players he never seemed to be completely happy with in Green Bay topped his wish list. They not only failed to get him over the hump to his second Super Bowl, but they could not even propel Green Bay to a winning record. The Packers finished 8-9 in 2022, failing to beat the Lions at home in the final regular-season game.
The Jets have bent over backward to get Rodgers, playing along with his publicity game. They also could pay a big price in a trade and commit a ton of salary cap space for a 39-year-old quarterback who showed signs of decline in 2022.
Last season, Rodgers threw 12 interceptions, the second-highest total in his career, and averaged just 217.4 passing yards a game, the lowest since he became a starter in 2008.
We saw something similar play out in Denver a year ago with Russell Wilson, and that plan failed miserably.
Given Rodgers' age, on-field trajectory and the way he has become a handful to deal with, a deal for the QB could be a recipe for disaster for the Jets.
The Jets might be better off bringing in a quarterback solution for the long haul. Rodgers is a short-timer and not worth the headaches.
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