Aaron Rodgers just became the Jets’ quarterback to lose

The New York Jets have optimism they are close to completing an Aaron Rodgers trade with the Green Bay Packers.

Aaron Rodgers is continuing to follow in Brett Favre’s footsteps, it would appear. ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported early Thursday morning that the New York Jets are optimistic in their chances of acquiring the MVP quarterback in a trade with the Green Bay Packers.

Here’s what Russini reported, in a series of Tweets:

“In the wake of an extensive in-person meeting between Aaron Rodgers & New York Jets brass, including owner Woody Johnson, there’s optimism in the Jets’ organization that they are on the brink of landing the future Hall of Fame QB, sources close to the situation tell ESPN. While optimism existed before the California meeting, Woody Johnson felt it was important to meet in person, sources said. Johnson left the meeting excited and satisfied about the potential match. As the Jets internally are working under an optimism that this will happen, the Jets and the Packers remain engaged in conversations about compensation and contract, sources said. Those conversation already started before the meeting. And so now, we wait to see if the Jets can close a deal to bring a future Hall of Famer from Green Bay to New York.”

The Jets flew out to meet with Rodgers Wednesday, presumably to plead their case to Rodgers, and were expected to fly back Wednesday morning, though no jet from California landed in the municipal airport the Jets brass departed from on Wednesday.

Rodgers has not officially made a decision on returning to play in 2023. He has made it clear retirement is on the table. But this news makes it fairly evident that the aging quarterback still believes he has some playing years left in the tank and is leaning toward returning to play, and being amenable to a new team for the first time in his career.

Next Jets step for Aaron Rodgers trade is agreeing with Green Bay Packers

Now that the Jets have apparently convinced Rodgers, they need to agree to terms with the Packers. That should be the easy part. Green Bay is reportedly willing to move Rodgers and move into the Jordan Love era, and moving on from the Rodgers experience might take a lower price than one would think.

One insider suggested a second- and conditional third-round pick would be enough.

The AFC East now becomes one of the most intriguing divisions in the sport. The Bills have Josh Allen, the Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa, the Patriots Mac Jones, and now New York is close to adding Rodgers.

It also would strengthen the AFC as a conference and could be a bloodbath to the Super Bowl in 2023. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert, Deshaun Watson, and for now, Lamar Jackson, in the same side of the bracket? Goodness, the Saints might cake-walk to the Super Bowl with Derek Carr…

Since Favre went from Green Bay to East Rutherford, New Jersey in 2008, the Jets have tried Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Patrick McCown, Sam Darnold, and Zach Wilson. Only Sanchez has won the team a playoff game of that group.