What did the Jets trade for Aaron Rodgers? Revisiting 2023 deal that sent Packers QB to new York | Sporting News Australia

A lot can happen in two years in the NFL. As the Chiefs have shown, dynasties can bloom. And as the the Packers have shown, legendary quarterbacks can force their way out another team.

That’s how Green Bay legend Aaron Rodgers ended up with the Jets. Rodgers grew tired of the Packers and requested a trade. It was eventually granted, leading to plenty of optimism about the Jets’ short-term future. Halfway through Rodgers’s second season with the team, and things haven’t gone according to plan.

From a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023 to leading New York to a brutal 2-6 start in 2024, Rodgers hasn’t come close to living up to the hype. As the Jets gear up to take on the Texans for “Thursday Night Football” in Week 9, let’s revisit the trade that saw Rodgers move from Green Bay to New York.

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Aaron Rodgers Jets trade

Packers trade:

• QB Aaron Rodgers
• 2023 1st round pick (No. 15 — Will McDonald IV)
• 2023 5th round pick (Traded to LV Raiders)

Jets trade: 

• 2023 1st round pick (No. 13 — DE Lukas Van Ness)
• 2023 2nd round pick (No. 42 — TE Luke Musgrave)
• 2023 6th round pick (No. 207 — K Anders Carlson)
• 2024 2nd round pick (No. 45 — LB Edgerrin Cooper)

Rodgers was 39 years old when he was traded to New York. When rumors started swirling about a possible deal, it was tough to gauge how much trade value the veteran would draw. His contract and age were issues, but the quarterback was also just a year removed from winning back-to-back MVP Awards in 2020 and 2021. 

Packers draft picks from Aaron Rodgers trade

Lukas Van Ness

The Packers were able to move up two spots in the 2023 NFL Draft, add an extra second round pick in 2023 and 2024 and swap a fifth and sixth round pick in the deal. With the first-round pick, the team selected Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa. He had a decent rookie season, picking up four sacks and 32 total tackles over 17 games. He has just one sack and 18 total tackles in eight games this season. 

Luke Musgrave

Musgrave looked like he would be a solid addition and a reliable option for new quarterback Jordan Love to target. He played 11 games as a rookie and finished with 352 yards and a touchdown. In 2024, he played in four games and had 22 yards before injuring his ankle and being placed on Injured Reserve. He likely lost his job as the starter as Tucker Kraft has balled out this season and leads Green Bay with five receiving touchdowns so far. 

Anders Carlson

Carlson struggled as a rookie. He made 27 of his 33 field goal attempts and missed five extra points. Green Bay didn’t feel like giving him time to develop, so they released him ahead of the 2024 season. Carlson now kicks for the San Francisco 49ers. 

Edgerrin Cooper

Cooper has impressed as a rookie. He has played in eight games and has 38 tackles, including 2.5 sacks. Time will tell how good of a pick he was, but currently, he fits Green Bay’s system.

Jets players in Aaron Rodgers trade

Will McDonald IV

McDonald played in 15 games as a rookie and had 14 total tackles, including three sacks and a forced fumble. While New York is struggling in 2024, McDonald is not. He has played in all eight games and has eight sacks and two forced fumbles. McDonald heads into Week 9 with the second-most sacks in the NFL, trailing only Dexter Lawrence, who has nine. 

Aaron Rodgers

Among the players involved in the trade, Rodgers has actually been one of the worst performers. He got hurt on the first drive of the team’s 2023 campaign, and a torn Achilles forced him to miss the remainder of the season. Rodgers returned healthy in 2024, but either Father Time caught up to him, or he isn’t as healthy as was reported. 

Through eight games with the Jets, Rodgers has thrown for 12 touchdowns against seven interceptions.