Aaron Rodgers has finally joined the New York Jets - and the structure of his contract shows he is there to win.
Whilst Rodgers is one of the NFL's highest-paid players, it has emerged that he has done his new franchise a favour by restructuring his huge contract to help their cap situation. Rodgers signed a three-year, $150million extension with the Green Bay Packers last year before seeking a trade to the Jets which was formally completed this week.
According to ESPN, a $58.3million option bonus payable in 2023 was converted into a 2024 base salary by Rodgers and the Packers before his trade. That means he will make the base-salary minimum, $1.165million, this season, which will be his cap charge.
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The Jets would have inherited a $15.8million cap hit on his previous contract if he had not made the change, and that would have left his new franchise in a tough spot in terms of the salary cap. However, they now don't need to make any major moves elsewhere.
The Jets are currently $7.4million under the cap, creating more space by restructuring John Franklin-Myers' contract this week. Rodgers' restructure is sure-fire indicator of his determination to be in the best position possible to help a team win the Super Bowl.
With a fully guaranteed $58.3million option bonus pushed into 2024, Rodgers will be due a huge $107.55million next year with his original $47million option bonus and $1.21million minimum salary on top. But they have ways to spread his cap hit over the remainder of his contract when they trigger the $47million option bonus.
It is claimed that Rodgers' agent, David Dunn, and the Jets are already discussing restructuring the deal again, and a new contract will likely be in place by training camp. Whilst the 39-year-old did not commit to playing beyond the 2023 season, he suggested that is his plan in his introductory press conference.
"They definitely gave up some picks for me to be here, so this isn't like one-and-done in my mind," Rodgers said.
He also highlighted the impact of a reunion with offensive co-ordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who he worked with in Green Bay, in influencing his decision to join the Jets.
“A big reason I’m here, I’ve got to mention, is Nathaniel Hackett, who’s here,” Rodgers said during his presser. “Hack and I became really close friends [after] three years in Green Bay and I love him like a brother, and I believe in him, and I’m really happy to be back working with him again.”
