Jets GM: Getting Rodgers is ‘historic’ trade for franchise

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — General manager Joe Douglas kicked off the New York Jets’ pre-draft news conference by having a young fan answer the first few questions from reporters.

Kyle Stickles, a Make-AWish recipient from Ghent, New York, was sitting between Douglas and assistant GM Rex Hogan when he was asked who the 15th overall pick by his favorite team should be.

“I mean, we definitely don’t need a quarterback,” a smiling Stickles said. You’ve got that right, kid. The Jets agreed on a deal Monday to acquire Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers, a franchise-altering move that brings the four-time NFL MVP to a team that has the league’s longest postseason drought at 12 years.

It came over six weeks after the 39-year-old Rodgers said during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube and Sirius XM on March 15 he intended to continue his playing career — and for the Jets.

Douglas called it an “honor” to have a player of Rodgers’ caliber to want to play for the franchise and credited the culture coach Robert Saleh has cultivated during his two-plus seasons with the team.

Negotiations went on for several weeks between Douglas and Packers GM Brian Gutekunst before the sides agreed on terms.

“Obviously, a long time in the making,” Douglas said. “There’s still some i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed to ultimately finalize everything, but it was a lot of conversations with Brian. ...

“I can’t thank him enough for the open dialogue we’ve had and ultimately being able to get what we feel is a historic trade for this franchise.”

According to a person with knowledge of the trade who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the teams have not officially announced the deal, the Jets will also receive Rodgers, the No. 15 overall pick and a fifth-rounder this year from the Packers. In exchange, Green Bay will get the 13th overall selection, a second-rounder, a sixth-rounder and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that could become a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of New York’s plays this season.

Some fans and media have said that’s a hefty haul to give up for Rodgers, whom Douglas wouldn’t say has committed to playing past this season — but the GM didn’t appear concerned about that.

“We’re comfortable with how this deal is shaped,” Douglas said.

The trade moves the Jets down two spots in the first round, where New York is likely to target an offensive lineman.

“That was probably one of the last things that was agreed to in the deal,” Douglas said.

Stickles, for the record, would like either Ohio State’s Paris Johnson or Georgia’s Broderick Jones — two of the top projected offensive tackles, along with Tennessee’s Darnell Wright and Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski.

“We needed to have 13 players we were really excited about,” Douglas said. “Now we need to have 15 players we’re really excited about, and I feel comfortable that we have that.”

Meanwhile, among the things the Jets still have to tackle is fitting Rodgers’ contract — he’s due a fully guaranteed $59.5 million this year — under their salary cap. Douglas said there has been some “positive discussions” with Rodgers’ agent as far as restructuring that deal to make it more cap friendly for New York.

Rodgers was the league MVP in 2020 and 2021, but didn’t perform as well last season while playing with a broken right thumb. He had his lowest passer rating as a starter (91.1) and threw 12 interceptions, his highest total since 2008.

“You still have someone that maybe didn’t play at 100% throughout the year, but still performed at a high level,” Douglas said. “Obviously it’s an adjustment when you’re somewhere for 18 years, but we feel like with the people that we have in place, he can get comfortable quickly.”

TOP PROSPECTS

Will Levis, Kentucky/Xavier-Middletown

QB (6-3, 232 pounds)

Projected: First round

The Kentucky quarterback from Madison will likely be one of the first four quarterbacks off the board and has been ranked as high as fourth overall in several popular mock drafts. He had two outstanding seasons for the Wildcats after transferring from Penn State. In 2021, he had 2,826 passing yards and 24 TDs with 13 interceptions, and a QB rating of 148.3. Last fall, he threw for 2,406 yards with 19 TDs and 10 interceptions, and bumped up his QB rating to 151.9. Kentucky was 17-7 with Levis under center, and he had six 300-yard games, the fourth-most in program history. He was also a recordsetter during his three years at Xavier, where he threw 27 touchdown passes and more than 2,700 yards as a senior in 2017.

Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan/Hamden Hall

CB Jeremy Lucien, Vanderbilt (UConn 2018-21): The cornerback is a graduate of Choate and played at UConn for three seasons before transferring to Vandy. He had 48 tackles, including 33 solo, for the Commodores last fall.

C/OG Jake Guidone, UConn: The 6foot-2, 304-pound offensive lineman won two Ivy League championships with Dartmouth before transferring to UConn.

LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, UConn: The 6-foot-2, 240-pound linebacker was second on the Huskies with 98 tackles, including 34 solo.

LB Ian Swenson, UConn: A 6foot-2, 215-pound LB, Swenson played 48 games over four seasons at UConn, and had 88 tackles, 42 solo, in 2022.

DB Tre Wortham, UConn: The 6foot-1, 203-pound DB played two seasons at UConn and had 75 tackles, 46 solo, and six interceptions.

FB Robert Burns, UConn: The 5foot-11, 228-pound fullback played three seasons at Miami before transferring to UConn for the 2021 season. He rushed 74 times for 374 yards and a pair of TDs last fall.