Jets seem to have favorite in Rodgers-Carr 'predicament'

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left) talks with Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Jets seem to have favorite in Aaron Rodgers-Derek Carr 'predicament'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 2/21/23

The New York Jets seem to have a preferred option regarding their "ultimate predicament" involving free-agent quarterback Derek Carr and Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers.

ESPN NFL insider Dianna Russini tweeted on Tuesday that the Jets "are really interested in" Carr but are waiting for Rodgers to emerge from his four-day "darkness retreat."

Russini added the Jets "will be speaking to Green Bay about a trade If the Packers are willing" once Rodgers informs his current employer of his plans for 2023:

The New York Jets are really interested in Derek Carr. Nothing but positive reviews, per sources. Now they wait for Aaron Rodgers to emerge from the darkness and inform the Packers of his plans. The Jets will be speaking to Green Bay about a trade IF the Packers are willing
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) February 21, 2023

Carr recently completed an official visit with Jets personnel that apparently went well but ended without the sides signing a contract.

While Carr reportedly will "do his due diligence and see as many places as he can" before he joins a team, Russini discussed during an on-air segment on Tuesday afternoon what he heard from the Jets.

"They went top to bottom of why Derek Carr could step in here and take this team not just to the playoffs, but to the Super Bowl," Russini explained, according to Kevin Parrish Jr. of The Spun. "They made it super personal, too. They said, 'We believe if you come to New York and win, you could be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.'"

Derek Carr's visit with the Jets on Monday went 'really well'

"[The Jets] made it super personal too, they said 'We believe if you come to New York and win, you could be a first ballot Hall of Famer.'" — @diannaESPN pic.twitter.com/eyBpLR8HRB
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 21, 2023

Rodgers, of course, already has a place secured in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player.

Carr previously met with the New Orleans Saints and has been linked in rumors with the Carolina Panthers, among other quarterback-needy clubs, this winter.

It sounds like Rodgers and not Carr is the Jets' first choice ahead of the start of the new league year, but that may not prevent Carr from signing with Gang Green if the club meets his asking price and if he believes he can guide a team that went 7-10 this past season with Zach Wilson, Mike White, Joe Flacco and Chris Streveler all taking snaps at the sport's most important position to a Super Bowl.

Then again, both Rodgers and Carr could reject the Jets and leave them considering a bold move for somebody such as Daniel Jones of the New York Giants.

More must-reads: