Getty Image / Patrick McDermott
The Aaron Rodgers-Packers-Jets saga finally came to an end on Monday when the two teams agreed to a deal that finally moved Aaron Rodgers to New York. The Packers legend Rodgers had chosen New York as his next team and announced the decision on March 15 on the hit show The Pat McAfee Show . But, there was one problem. He was still under contract with the Green Bay Packers, the team he had spent all 18 seasons of his career with.
At that point, though, the team had little leverage over Aaron Rodgers and essentially were forced to play ball with the New York Jets. After all, would have simply not played for the Packers, and they would have been on the hook for his exorbitant salary. Or, he would have retired, and they would have got nothing for him. Instead, they got a lot for him.
Trade compensation, per sources:
Jets get:
šAaron Rodgers, pick No. 15, a 2023 5th-rd pick (No. 170).Packers get:
šPick No. 13, a 2023 2nd-rd pick (No. 42), a 6th-rd pick (No. 207), a conditional 2024 2nd-rd pick that becomes a 1st if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the plays. pic.twitter.com/Q2vUMfyZGHā Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2023
This situation mirrors another Packers legend, Brett Favre, who also was traded to the Jets from Green Bay late in his career. Favre never made a return to Lambeau Field, the historic home of the Green Bay Packers, as a member of the Jets. But, he did make a dramatic, emotional, return as a member of the rival Minnesota Vikings after he moved on from the Jets one year later.
With the way the NFL schedule arrangement works, we now know the earliest time that Aaron Rodgers could return to Lambeau Field as a member of the New York Jets.
Here is Pro Football Talk with more details.
Under the scheduling formula adopted when the NFL expanded to 17 regular-season games, the teams of the NFC North are due to host one team from the AFC East. It depends on where the teams finish in 2023.
If the Jets and Packers land in the same position in their respective divisions, itās Jets at Packers in 2024.
In theory, thereās a 25-percent chance of that happening.
The two teams played there in 2022. The Jets beat the Packers.
Of course, Rodgers would have to choose to play in 2024 for the matchup to happen. Heāll know whether the 2023 schedule includes a trip to Lambeau Field the moment the 2023 regular season ends.
Well, it could be awhile. But, itās not hard to envision a scenario where both the Packers and Jets finish 2nd or 3rd in their respective divisions this year, setting up an Aaron Rodgers return.