NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo discussed who he believes has influence over Aaron Rodgers’ trade discussions between the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.
One of the biggest questions answered this season – what does quarterback Aaron Rodgers want to do? That answer is Rodgers plays for the New York Jets, as revealed by the four-time NFL MVP on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Now, the holdover is the Jets and Green Bay Packers negotiating and closing the deal. There is no timeline on when this will be done, and it may be a matter of who blinks first.
This is why those in the NFL world are asking – who has leverage between the Jets and the Packers?
During his appearance on NFL Now, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo discussed who has the leverage, and says he believes the Jets do. Specifically, Garafolo talking about the value of picks in this year’s draft rather than next year’s draft is his “next pressure point.”
From the NFL Now on the debate over leverage in the #Packers– #Jets negotiations on the Aaron Rodgers trade. The value of this year’s draft versus next year creates the next pressure point. pic.twitter.com/s0rCjEFK05
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 17, 2020
Do the Jets or the Packers influence Aaron Rodgers trade discussions?
“For me, the next pressure point is the draft, because draft picks are going to be involved in this trade, and if you’re a Packers, don’t you want to be draft picks in 2023 instead of draft picks in 2024,” Garafolo said. “… those are going to be picks. Higher than next year, probably because Aaron Rodgers has been added to a talented team, they should be better. So this year she’s ranked 13th in the first round, and 43rd in the second round, you would think that if you traded in next year’s picks, it would be even lower. Plus, if you’re a packager and get picks this year, these guys can start contributing in 2023 versus 2024.
Now some might say, ‘Don’t the Jets want to get this done, it’s over with him? Rodgers getting into the building? Well, look, he really doesn’t have to start throwing OTAs and mini-camps until we get into what, May? This is after the draft anyway, and if he wants to throw his targets, he can do that. He could fly them to California, he could come here and work anywhere with them, right? As far as he knows about the crime, he already knows it. Nathaniel Hackett as running back, the Jets’ new offensive coordinator.”
As Garafolo mentions, the NFL Draft is coming up very soon. From April 27-29, the NFL will be in Kansas City for the draft, where teams will be looking for the best prospects available to them.
This year, the Jets’ picks will be even more lucrative, slated for top 15 selections in the first round and as early as the second round. That would give the Packers the chance to add players to their roster, and perhaps some to help out with their new quarterback, Jordan Love.
Next year, the Jets could finish with a better record than they did in 2022, barring a one-season Denver Broncos disaster.
According to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, the Packers are looking for a first-round pick and more for Rodgers, and that’s more than the Jets are looking to give up.
As the days went by, the Packers became more vocal about giving Love playing time as a starter. So, it kind of gives the Jets leverage in a sense, as the Packers are willing to move on without Rodgers.
There is still time before the start of the season. Maybe, just maybe, the two sides can come to a resolution before the NFL Draft. As Garafolo said in the video above, the Jets’ picks next year may not be as valuable as their picks this year.
