Just about everyone has been expecting the New York Jets to trade for Aaron Rodgers for the last several weeks.
Rodgers has said he wants to play with the Jets next season, and the two teams reportedly started engaging in trade discussions, although there is apparently no rush.
But for them to finalize a deal, they still have to clear enough salary cap space to absorb Rodgers’ big contract.
According to Rich Cimini via NFLPA data, New York currently has $8.4 million in cap space.
#Jets cap space check:
They have $8.4M in cap room, per NFLPA data. That’s more than enough to sign their draft picks, but they will have to do some tweaking to absorb a certain high-salaried QB.
—Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) April 20, 2023
Last offseason, the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback signed a three-year, $150 million contract with the Packers, so the Jets still have plenty of work in order to be able to land him.
Elsewhere, however, they seem to have assembled a competitive squad.
Despite missing the playoffs last season, they ranked fourth in both points and total yards allowed, and a big reason why was the play of rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner.
He took the NFL by storm with a league-high 20 passes defended and earned Pro Bowl, All-Pro first-team, and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
On offense, wide receiver Garrett Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors by posting 1,103 yards and four touchdowns.
The Jets also brought in Allen Lazard, who had developed into one of Rodgers’ favorite targets in Green Bay with 788 yards and six scores last season.
In a very competitive AFC, a top-level quarterback will be needed to unlock all this talent, and if Rodgers will return to form after a somewhat disappointing 2022 campaign, he could be just the man to do it.
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