Why Aaron Rodgers’ move to the Jets could be too good to be true

Legendry quarterback Aaron Rodgers is heading to ‘The Big Apple’ for the 2023 season, after the New York Jets got their guy having traded away a haul of picks to get him this offseason.

Due to nature of the blockbuster move, there has been a surreal amount of hype around the Jets being Super Bowl contenders in 2023, but there is every chance this hype isn’t necessarily warranted.

After being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2005, Rodgers sat under Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre for three seasons, before going on to become a four-time MVP. Rodgers has also enjoyed team success, lifting the Lombardi trophy in 2010. Since then, the Packers have been a main stay in the NFC playoff picture with multiple appearances in the NFC championship, yet haven’t have not been back to the Super Bowl since their win in the 2010 season.

In the last couple of years of his time with Green Bay, Rodgers seemed to grow frustrated with the organisation. This left for a lot of media speculation on the quarterback’s future for many years now. You could see a potential crack in that relationship when the Packers drafted quarterback Jordan Love with a first-round pick in 2020.

This selection was used on Love instead of getting some receiving help that Rodgers craved. Fast forward to the NFC championship game in the 2020 season, coach Matt LaFleur decided to not go for it on fourth down and opting to kick the field goal. It is safe to say that Rodgers was not impressed with the decision. Yet, the straw that broke the camel’s back was when the Packers traded star receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, a catalyst which led to a poor 2022 season for Rodgers compared to previous years.

Looking at the Jets, they took a step forward in 2022, impressing a lot of people from across the league. A strong draft propelled New York from one of the worst teams in the league to just barely missing out on the playoffs, with standout players like of Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner already becoming two of the best players in their respective positions after outstanding rookie years. Many people are expecting more big things from them in year two.

There has been a trend in recent years of star quarterbacks going to franchises who are on the edge of becoming elite teams but are still missing a piece. Sometimes you will hit the jackpot like when Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he won his seventh Super Bowl. Other times, the desired result is less successful, look at Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos last season. Rodgers is 39 years old which means it is safe to say he is in the twilight years of his career. Father time beats every athlete eventually, and with Rodgers being 39 a drop in performance could come at any time. 

The AFC is a lot more competitive than the NFC at this moment, with an abundance of teams with outstanding talent. Even looking at his new division in the AFC East; you have two other potential Super Bowl contenders in the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, and the New England Patriots, who have dominated the Jets for years.

Scheduling can play a big role in a team’s success and the Jets are set to face some tough opposition in 2023. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys only scrapes the iceberg. This means that the Jets will have to be on their A-game most weeks to get a result. 

It is hard to say what next year holds for Rodgers and the Jets. It is going to be entertaining, for better or for worse.