The New York Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers after two issues turned obvious. First, that former quantity two total choice Zach Wilson was not a viable starter, and second, that Rodgers was out there. They instantly started specializing in him as their new quarterback.
Nevertheless, that commerce took a very long time and to imagine the Jets did not even look into different choices could be silly. GM Joe Douglas in all probability inquired about everybody that was probably out there. Apparently, that included Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
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In response to CBS Sports activities’ Cody Benjamin, the Jets had a really brief checklist of commerce targets and Stafford was on it:
“The Jets had their sights set on new quarterback Aaron Rodgers early within the 2023 NFL offseason. However the former Packers nice wasn’t the one notable identify to garner consideration from the workforce. Earlier than free company, Jets brass evaluated 19 totally different veteran choices to exchange Zach Wilson, in keeping with SNY, and briefly narrowed an inventory of commerce targets to incorporate the Rams’ Matthew Stafford.”
The tier of quarterbacks they needed to maneuver for have been ones they felt gave them an opportunity on the Tremendous Bowl. That solely included Rodgers, Stafford, and Lamar Jackson.
When Jackson seemed to be too tough to land, the Jets workplace moved on and ended up buying and selling for Aaron Rodgers. That was in all probability probably the greatest strikes they may have made.
Why Aaron Rodgers made essentially the most sense for the Jets
Matthew Stafford doesn’t have a clear invoice of well being. He suffered a debilitating harm final season and reportedly mulled retirement. That is not who a brand new workforce would need to pin their Tremendous Bowl goals on.
Lamar Jackson would have price means an excessive amount of and the Jets offense is so in contrast to what Jackson has run that the personnel might need needed to change considerably. The playbook might need too.
Rodgers can slide in and play an analogous offense that they ran final yr, however much more successfully. He is not one of the best quarterback of the trio anymore resulting from age and different elements, however he is nonetheless efficient and made essentially the most sense.