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
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.
C.J. Uzomah could sweeten the Aaron Rodgers trade for the Packers
One thing that’s been interesting is seeing the draft pick compensation that the Packers could possibly be getting in return for Rodgers in this trade. One trade package that was recently floated saw Green Bay getting only a second-round pick in 2023 with a conditional Day 2 pick in 2024 as well.
It makes sense as to why that’s the case given the quarterback’s age and salary. At the same time, though, even if Green Bay continues to make it clear that they’re ready to move on from Rodgers, they have to feel that they can get a little bit more than that whenever they trade him, especially with how interested and aggressive the Jets appear willing to be.
That’s where someone like tight end C.J. Uzomah could make a ton of sense for the Packers in this situation. While the Matt LaFleur offense isn’t the heaviest on tight end usage, we have seen it sometimes be a valuable cog in the passing game. Yet, both Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis are pending free agents, which leaves only middling Josiah Deguara left at the position.
Uzomah seemingly got passed up on the depth chart by Tyler Conklin in New York as the year went on in the 2022 season, so he could very well be considered expendable by the Jets, especially entering a draft with a deep and talented tight end class. If moving Uzomah would help facilitate getting Rodgers to the Big Apple, that seems like an easy choice to make.
Instead of the Jets releasing Corey Davis, he could be part of Aaron Rodgers trade
When the Jets signed Corey Davis in free agency a couple of years ago, the hope was that the former Titans first-round pick would be an asset to help foster the development of young quarterbacks. While Davis flashed at times, health and inconsistency allowed him to be passed up on the depth chart.
That has led to this offseason and a likely option for New York to release Davis this offseason, a move that would save the team just north of $11 million on the salary cap. That would make sense in order to make way for Rodgers, but they could also get that money off of the books by sending him to the Packers to answer one of Green Bay’s biggest needs.
Even with the emergence of Christian Watson at the end of his rookie season and with flashes from another rookie, Romeo Doubs, the receiver room is thin in Green Bay. Jordan Love is going to be the new man for the Packers but he needs viable weapons around him and a complete receiving corps for him to have the best opportunity to reach his potential.
Davis might never have lived up to his first-round status, but the fact of the matter is that he’s a versatile veteran who could fit nicely with the options the Packers currently have. They need a big-bodied possession-type player who can also take the top off to fit into this group currently in the building, and Davis would definitely fit that bill while the Jets would be able to move save money and ensure they can acquire Rodgers.