Despite signs pointing towards Aaron Rodgers wanting to play for the New York Jets, there are two complications holding up the deal, including a restructured contract and compensation with the Green Bay Packers, according to NFL in sider Adam Schefter.
Rodgers has been tangled in a trade saga between his Packers and the Jets for some time. The 39-year-old has repeatedly said he doesn’t want to hold anyone hostage with his decision as he weighs up retirement, joining the Jets or returning to Green Bay for a 19th season.
And an announcement on his future in the NFL could come on Wednesday at 1pm ET (5pm GMT) with an interview on The Pat McAfee Show.
However, before a deal can be done, reporter Schefter says there are two complications that the Jets need to navigate to get the four-time MVP on their books. Schefter says the Jets need to agree a restructured contract with Rodgers and also come to a deal on compensation with the Packers.
Rodgers signed a monster new contract with the Packers last offseason to earn $50.27million (£41.3m) per year through the 2026 season, when he will be 43 years of age. However, his 2023 cap hit if he is traded to a new team is just $15.74m (£12.9m).
Schefter said on ESPN Get Up: “Well Greeny [Mike Greenberg], I will not be surprised if Rodgers tells Pat McAfee ‘yes’, that he wants to play for the Jets. But as you have been saying all week long, there are layers to this whole situation.
“It’s not a simple decision of Aaron Rodgers just saying, ‘Ok, I want to play for the Jets’, and snap your finger - you’re put out of your misery Greeny and it’s done. It’s more complicated than that. If, assuming he does want to play for the Jets, which all signs continue to point to the fact that yes he does, then the Jets have to figure out a restructured contract with him - and they have not done that to my knowledge just yet.
“More complicated is the fact that the Jets and the Green Bay Packers have to figure out compensation on what it would take to acquire Aaron Rodgers. And my understanding is that within the Packers' organisation, they felt that he was worth a package that was similar to the one that the Rams once got for Matthew Stafford, which was multiple ones.
“Now, if you’re the New York Jets, you don’t want to have to trade multiple ones for a 39-year-old quarterback, who’s on a year-to-year basis, and you don’t know how long you’ll have his services. So the Jets have to figure out what they’re willing to pay.”
