Insider: Packers, Jets may not complete Aaron Rodgers trade before June 1

It appears the saga involving the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets could drag on for multiple additional months. 

In a piece published on Monday, Jets insider Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic wrote that "it feels unlikely at this point" that the Packers and Jets will agree to terms on a Rodgers trade before April 27, the first day of the NFL Draft. Rosenblatt added that the Packers will carry a dead salary-cap hit of $40.3M if they trade the future Hall of Famer before June 1 and that fans shouldn't "expect anything to happen" until then unless the two sides complete a trade before the draft ends. 

"The Packers can spread that $40.3M dead cap over two seasons—$15.8M in 2023 and $24.5M in 2024—and thus create more cap space this offseason," Rosenblatt explained. 

Additionally, Green Bay doesn't have to exercise the $58.3M option bonus attached to Rodgers' contract until Week 1 of the 2023 season.

It was reported last week that the Packers want a 2023 second-round draft pick and a guaranteed 2024 first-round selection for Rodgers. Green Bay could include draft compensation for 2025 if Rodgers retires following the 2023 season, but Jets owner Woody Johnson allegedly got "scared" after the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player told Pat McAfee in March he went into his offseason darkness retreat "90 percent retired and 10 percent playing."

Packers president and chief executive officer Mark Murphy has made it known on multiple occasions the club is ready to move on from Rodgers and start 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love. On Monday morning, Mike Spofford of the Packers' website mentioned that Love is "ready to take control" of the club's offense. 

However, Rosenblatt suggested that Rodgers "might consider showing up for the start of Packers (training) camp to make things awkward and speed the trade talks along" in July.