Aaron Rodgers rumors: 3 players to package in Jets, Packers trade
Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner revealed that an Aaron Rodgers trade is going to include ‘package deals’. So which players should be part of the package?
Every passing hour seems to provide another wrinkle to the looming Aaron Rodgers trade that will send the longtime Packers quarterback to the New York Jets. The deal is not yet official, but the foreshadowing appears to indicate that it’s going to happen soon. And one of Rodgers’ potential new teammates, cornerback Sauce Gardner, appeared to drop some key details.
During a Twitch stream on Thursday night, Gardner said that “it’s package deals all over”, noting that he “can’t tell y’all who”. That seems to indicate that it’s more than just draft picks involved in this likely trade and that players could be on the move other than Rodgers as well.
Who are those players?
Obviously, Gardner couldn’t tell us, but there are at least three players who would make a ton of sense as part of the Aaron Rodgers trade between the Jets and Packers whenever it officially goes down.
Aaron Rodgers rumors: 3 players that should be part of Jets, Packers trade
3
David Bakhtiari
OT Green Bay Packers
The Jets could try to poach David Bakhtiari from Packers in Aaron Rodgers trade
Earlier in the week when everyone began to question what could potentially be holding up the Aaron Rodgers trade, Packers insider Matt Schneidman of The Athletic floated the possibility that the Jets could be trying to get veteran offensive tackle — and Rodgers’ friend, notably — David Bakhtiari as part of the trade package for the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
New York has invested heavily in the offensive line in recent years but they are now in a tricky spot going into 2023. Mekhi Becton has been a bit injury-prone and unreliable, Duane Brown is retiring, and George Fant is scheduled to hit free agency. That leaves the team extremely thin at the tackle spot.
Thus, trying to get Bakhtiari in the building could make a ton of sense. Having said that, it doesn’t come without a slight buyer-beware label for the Jets. Bakhtiari has struggled with staying healthy in his own right over the past couple of seasons, which is something to consider. When on the field over that span, though, he’s still been elite, which might make him worth the risk.
If the Jets are going all-in on an Aaron Rodgers trade, then it only makes sense that they do everything in their power to make sure the quarterback is in the best position to succeed. They have great young receiving talent but the offensive line, as mentioned, needs some shoring up. Bringing Bakhtiari over in the deal would help to accomplish that in addition to making Rodgers feel more comfortable.