Aaron Rodgers traded to Jets in franchise-altering blockbuster

One of the most bitter divorces in recent years has finally been settled with an NFL superstar getting his wish to be cut free.

Aaron Rodgers finally gets the divorce he has wanted for months. Photo by Patrick McDermott / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.

The New York Jets now have an A-Rod of their very own. Finally.

The Jets agreed to a trade with the Packers on Tuesday to acquire four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a source confirmed, in a franchise-altering move.

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After weeks of speculation about what it would take to get a deal done, the Jets agreed to swap first-round picks with the Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft, giving them the No. 13 pick in exchange for the No. 15 pick in the first round.

The New York Post reports the Jets are also sending Green Bay a second-round pick (No. 42 overall), a sixth-round pick (No. 207 overall) and a conditional second-round pick in 2024 that becomes a first-round pick if Rodgers plays 65 per cent of the plays for the Jets in 2023.

Though Rodgers had permission from Joe Namath to wear his retired No. 12, Rodgers is going to wear No. 8, according to ESPN, the number he wore in college at the University of California

The Jets have been interested in the 39-year-old Rodgers since January.

Rodgers said March 15 on “The Pat McAfee Show” that it was his intention to play for the Jets and now the teams have turned that into reality.

Jets owner Woody Johnson said he “absolutely” would be willing to spend big money on a veteran quarterback.

The Jets then hired Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive co-ordinator.

Hackett worked with Rodgers from 2019-21 as the Packers offensive co-ordinator and has a close relationship with the mercurial Rodgers.

Aaron Rodgers finally gets the divorce he has wanted for months. Photo by Patrick McDermott / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.

The Jets and Rodgers met last month in California, and now a trade has been agreed upon.

Rodgers instantly makes the Jets Super Bowl contenders.

The Jets finished 7-10 last year but had a top-five defence and some emerging young talent on offense in wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall.

The Jets were dragged down by poor quarterback play and lost their final six games, failing to score a touchdown in the last three.

The Jets quickly said that Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, would not be their starter in 2023. Wilson will remain on the team.

The Jets may feel that Wilson will be more receptive to sitting behind Rodgers, his childhood idol, than another quarterback.

This trade is reminiscent of the trade the Jets made in 2008 to acquire Hall of Famer Brett Favre from the Packers.

That trade cleared the way for Rodgers to become Green Bay’s starter.

Now, 15 years later he is following Favre again.

Like that other A-Rod, former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, Rodgers has immense talent but also can be a controversial figure.

Rodgers is not afraid to speak his mind and his views have sparked debates, particularly about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Rodgers is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game and gives the Jets instant credibility at the position, something they have lacked since Favre was their quarterback in 2008.

Aaron Rodgers was a young man when the trade drama began. Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images.

Since then, they have gone through high draft picks – Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, Wilson – and journeymen – Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh McCown – at the position.

Rodgers has won the MVP Award four times, been named All-Pro four times and been a Pro Bowler 10 times.

Rodgers is coming off a down season by his standards.

He threw for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions but he was hampered by a thumb injury and had new faces around him on offense after Green Bay traded top receiver Davante Adams to the Raiders.

Reports had indicated the Packers were ready to move on from Rodgers and turn things over to Jordan Love but everyone was waiting to hear from Rodgers, who famously went on a “darkness retreat” in February to contemplate his decision.

Even after the Jets met with Rodgers in California, there was still a thought that Rodgers could decide to retire.

Instead, Rodgers chose to come to New York and the 2023 Jets are suddenly much more interesting.

— This story originally appeared on nypost.com and has been republished with permission

Originally published as Aaron Rodgers traded to Jets in franchise-altering blockbuster