Gutekunst: First-Round Pick In Rodgers Trade ‘Not a Necessity’

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst continues to work on a trade that would send quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Mar 27, 2023 8:51 PM EDT
Original:
Mar 27, 2023

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst wants “all” the New York Jets’ draft picks for the forthcoming trade of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Gutekunst was joking. Critically, he said the trade does not have to include the Jets’ first-round pick.

“I think that’s not a necessity but, at the same time, the value of the player – he’s a premier player, so getting premier picks back for (premier) players is important,” Gutekunst told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix on Monday afternoon.

Putting together the right package for Rodgers is incredibly difficult, which is why no deal has been reached despite a couple weeks of talks between Gutekunst and Jets general manager Joe Douglas. Among the potential sticking points:

- The Packers need to trade Rodgers to make way for Jordan Love. The Jets need to acquire Rodgers to have any chance at winning the Super Bowl. Both GMs might be hoping his colleague is the first to cave.

- The Jets, who are in win-now mode, don’t want to give up the 13th pick of the draft – a selection that, obviously, would help in their win-now endeavor.

- Rodgers will turn 40 in December. This could be a one-year rental for the Jets.

- Rodgers’ three-year, $150 million contract includes a payout of more than $59 million this year. While neither franchise is poor, that’s a lot of cash.

- Rodgers’ contract includes enormous salary-cap hits.

Time is not of the essence for either team. As Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters earlier in the day: “There’s great rapport with [offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett]. There’s really no urgency. The quarterback is going to understand the system. The quarterback knows it. It’s just a matter of just refining skills and doing all that stuff. So, there’s no hurry on our end.”

There’s no hurry for the Packers, either. Green Bay is conducting business as if Jordan Love is going to be the starting quarterback because, well, Jordan Love is going to be the starting quarterback.

However, the first round of the NFL Draft will be conducted on April 27. That’s exactly one month away. While a case could be made for the Packers taking 2024 compensation, Gutekunst stated a preference for getting a draft pick or picks that could be used this year.

“I think the sooner the better,” he said. “Certainly, if we get beyond the draft, then everything changes, compensation changes. That would be a whole different scenario but, hopefully, we can get this done soon.”

The Jets don’t want to give up the 13th pick. Gutekunst doesn’t necessarily have to have the 13th pick. So, presumably, the “premier picks” discussion has turned to the Jets’ second-round choices. New York has back-to-back choices at No. 42 (acquired for receiver Elijah Moore last week) and No. 43 (its own pick).

Based on two widely used trade value charts, getting both of those picks would equal the 17th pick or the 19th pick of the first round.

The options are limited only by the general managers’ imaginations. Maybe they’ll settle on a second-round pick only. Or a second-rounder in 2023 and something else in 2024, which could float up or down based on the Jets’ success in 2023 and if Rodgers returns in 2024. The teams could flip-flop spots in the first round as part of the package. Veteran players could enter a deal, as well.

“It has to work for both parties and I think we’re both committed to figuring that out,” Gutekunst said. “It’s really kind of in their court right now. We’ll kind of see where it goes.”

Where it goes, presumably, will be with Rodgers being traded to New York. Green Bay, having committed to Love, needs to make it happen. New York, with nowhere else to turn at quarterback, needs to make it happen.

Talks between Gutekunst and Douglas will continue in Phoenix with the ultimate destination being a monumental trade being agreed to sometime in the next month.

“I think right now all options are on the table,” Gutekunst said of Rodgers returning if a trade falls through. “It’s not trending that way, and I’m hopeful we can facilitate this and get this accomplished. But he’s come back under certain circumstances before where maybe he wasn’t the happiest with everything that was going on and played very well.

“So, we’ll just see how all of this transpires. I think it’s trending hopefully in the right direction for what everybody wants.”