Don’t hold your breath waiting for an Aaron Rodgers trade before the NFL draft.
As the Packers and Jets continue to negotiate a potential deal for the veteran quarterback — who said in March that he intends to play for New York in 2023 — conversations have reportedly stalled in recent weeks.
“There hasn’t been a whole lot of conversation, if any, over the last couple of weeks, going back to the owners meetings [from March 26-28],” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Tuesday on “NFL Live.”
The Jets and Packers are reportedly “dug in” and “willing to be patient,” and a deal does not appear to be close.
The Jets have the 13th overall pick in the draft, as well as back-to-back selections in the second round (42nd and 43rd overall).
“What’s interesting is if the two sides can’t figure out a deal by the time the draft comes [beginning April 27], then the Jets go ahead and make their picks… and Aaron Rodgers then has a decision to make about whether or not to show up to the mandatory minicamp in May,” Schefter said.
“Do the Packers want him there — when he’s scheduled to counter about $60 million?
“Do you want to risk him showing up and getting hurt — or do the two sides want to come together and get something done before the draft so Green Bay can go ahead and use the picks now for a player that doesn’t figure to be part of their future?”
During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” last month, Rodgers said Green Bay is “digging their heels in” trying to get compensation for him.
That came after conflicting reports about Green Bay’s compensation requests.
It’s getting hard to follow the tangled web of reports surrounding a potential Rodgers trade — especially after Jets general manger Joe Douglas said Friday that the quarterback will land in New York.
On Tuesday, Packers president Mark Murphy played coy when he was asked about negotiations for Rodgers — and said although he is “actively involved,” there is no update on the matter.
“That’s something [Packers general manager] Brian [Gutekunst] is working on,” Murphy told reporters when asked if Green Bay feels the need to get a deal done before the draft.
Last week, a separate report by NBC Sports’ Peter King said a Jets-Rodgers deal will be done by April 28, which is the second day of the draft.
At the NFL owners’ meetings in Phoenix, Gutekunst seemingly implied that this year’s draft is the deadline for Rodgers to be traded.
Asked about the possibility of the Rodgers trade saga dragging into the summer months, Gutekunst said: “I think hopefully we’ll get this done before that, but as long as it takes.”
As for whether Green Bay’s draft capital they receive will be used for this year, 2024 or beyond, Gutekunst added, “I think the sooner the better.”
However, Gutekunst said the Packers can afford to wait until May or June if they aren’t satisfied with a package the Jets present for Rodgers.
“There’s not much going on right now,” Gutekunst said. “So again, I think it has to work for both parties and I think we’re both committed to figuring that out.
“It’s really kind of in their court right now. We’ll see where it goes.
“Certainly, if we get beyond the draft, then everything changes, compensation changes. That would be a whole different scenario.”
A post-draft trade for Rodgers would look much different from a financial standpoint.
Rodgers has $110 million left on his contract extension that he signed with Green Bay last spring.
The 39-year-old quarterback is due $59.5 million in guaranteed money this year and another $49.25 million in 2024.
The four-time MVP is spending the offseason on the West Coast, where he was photographed shopping for crystals earlier this month in Los Angeles.
On Friday, Rodgers was seen working out in California with new Jets receiver Allen Lazard, who was his teammate for five seasons in Green Bay.