Aaron Rodgers moves to the New York Jets in a blockbuster deal

The rumor had been circulating for weeks in the NFL. Now it’s done. Aaron Rodgers is leaving the Green Bay Packers and joining the New York Jets, who have been desperate for a quarterback for many years.

According to ESPN, the Packers agreed Monday to trade Aaron Rodgers, their 2023 first-round pick (No. 15 overall) and a 2023 fifth-round pick (No. 170) to the Jets in exchange for New York’s 2023 first-round pick (No. 13 overall), a 2023 second-round pick (No. 42), a 2023 sixth-round pick (No. 207) and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that will become a first-round pick if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the games this season.

Last year, the Jets trusted young Zach Wilson, drafted second overall in 2021. Despite his arrival, the Jets have not made the playoffs in 12 years, the longest stretch of inactivity in the four major sports leagues.

With Aaron Rodgers, the Jets get a 39-year-old veteran quarterback and four-time NFL MVP. Used to playing late in January, the man expected to wear No. 8 with his new team led the Packers to 11 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl championship in 15 years.

The Packers should now take advantage of Rodgers’ departure to turn to Jordan Love, their 2020 first-round pick. After three seasons as a backup, Love should be ready to take over, as Rodgers did before him when Brett Favre left for Green Bay in 2008.

According to ESPN, several members of the Jets organization, including owner Woody Johnson, traveled to California on March 7 to meet with Rodgers and try to convince him to accept a trade. The Jets had been targeting the future Hall of Famer since January.

A year ago, Rodgers seemed destined to finish his career in Green Bay. He had signed a three-year, $150 million contract extension in March 2022.

With this mega-deal, the Jets will inherit the remainder of his contract from Rodgers, which includes $59.465 million guaranteed in salary and bonuses this season.