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There are a lot of “scoops” out there, but . . .
many turn out to be nothing burgers, like the this report from March 11:
“From my understanding on Jets and Aaron Rodgers: Everything that needs to be done is essentially done in regards to a trade. Sides have worked out what needs to be worked out.”
We sit here on March 28, and they still haven’t agreed to terms on a trade.
So you have to take a lot of these reports with a grain of salt.
But something came out today that you might want to pay attention to.
It came from Yahoo Sports Charles Robinson, who might be the best of the National NFL Insiders when it comes to Jets news. He reported the Packers and Jets are getting “closer” to a deal that would send QB Aaron Rodgers for one of the Jets’ second-round picks in this year’s draft and another in next year’s draft.
Robinson has a great source in the Jets front office who trusts him. Remember, when Jamal Adams went scorched earth in 2020 trying to get a contract, Robinson had reported:
“Sticking point on extension is simple. Guys like Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack played four seasons (and won DPOY) before their extensions. Jets don’t want to do Adams’ deal after three years for the highest-paid safety money he wants. In 2021 it could be a different story.”
So since they refused to extend Adams after this third year, they traded him to Seattle for a package that included two first-round picks, an amazing haul for a box safety.
So in my opinion, Robinson is talks to somebody in the know, and this new report probably has veracity, especially in light of Packer GM Brian Gutekunst saying at the NFL Owner’s Meeting he didn’t necessarily need to get a first-round pick in return for Rodgers.
“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 said.
So a pair of twos with the possibility the pick could move up based on contractual escalators like the Jets hosting a home divisional playoff game or going to the AFC Championship Game.
Trading a pair of twos, one this year, and one next, wouldn’t hurt the Jets that much, because they have a pair of twos this year, so if they traded one, they would still be picking in the 2023 first and second rounds.
And contrary to the popular narrative they have a very good team, and just need a QB, there have several other needs.
People are overrating their defense from last year. Yes, it improved from the year before, but they played a lot of average to sub-par quarterbacks and struggled to stop the run during their six-game losing streak to end the season.
They need a big-time run-stuffer to play next to Quinnen Williams to help fix their leaky run defense up the middle.
They need an instinctive coverage linebacker to help them deal with tight ends better.
And they need a ball-hawking safety to play next to Jordan Whitehead, who does his best work in the box. Maybe that is Tony Adams. It’s too early to tell on him, so they should probably add somebody else. Yes, they acquired Chuck Clark, but he is perhaps best near the line as well. He’s a good player, but has so-so speed.
They also need offensive line help, including at center.
So this one-player-away rhetoric is hyperbolic.
They have a lot of needs.
So if they can keep their first and second-round picks this year, which based on the Robinson report they probably can, that would help them land two potential starters to fix these holes.
March 28, 2023
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