Aaron Rodgers trade details: Did the NY Jets get fleeced?

The most dramatic offseason in NY Jets history is finally over. It's official ladies and gentlemen, the NY Jets have traded with the Green Bay Packers for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The full trade details are out and it begs the question, did the Jets get fleeced?

Before we begin, as per ESPN's Rich Cimini and Rob Demovsky, let's take a look at the actual trade between both teams. The Packers agreed to trade Rodgers, their 2023 first-round pick (No. 15), and a 2023 fifth-round pick (No. 170) to the Jets for their 2023 first-round pick (No. 13), a 2023 second-round pick (No. 42), a 2023 sixth-round pick (No. 207), and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that becomes a first-round pick if Rodgers specifically plays 65% of the plays this season.

Okay, it's a lot to break down here. In the grand scheme of things, no, the Jets did not get fleeced by the Packers as this trade makes a lot of sense for both sides. Firstly, the Packers wanted to get Rodgers dealt before the 2023 NFL Draft to get some more capital to work with this year, shift the team towards a new direction, and simply move on.

The NY Jets did not get fleeced in Aaron Rodgers trade

They also had to be realistic in that this isn't the same Rodgers that won them a Super Bowl back in 2010. He's older now, dealt with numerous injuries, and has seen a slight decline in play. His contract was also the biggest roadblock that undoubtedly caused many hours of negotiations to make it fair for both sides. Needless to say, this whole Rodgers situation has dragged on a lot longer than anyone wanted due to that. The Packers needed decent compensation as much as the Jets needed a huge upgrade at the most important position of the team.

Secondly, the Jets are built to win now after last season proved they have the defense needed to win a lot of football games. It's incredible to see such a great defense but if last season proved anything, it's that the Jets' offense was flat-out terrible, especially at quarterback. They haven't had a quarterback of this caliber in over 15 years and now that they have a future Pro Football Hall of Famer under center for this upcoming season, they are instantly a playoff contender.

Finally, the Jets absolutely needed to take a swing and do whatever it took to bring Rodgers to the city that never sleeps. Make no mistake about it, Zach Wilson is not the answer now. He might be in the future but definitely not now or even anytime soon but we'll leave that for another day. The Jets needed a veteran quarterback that can come right in and take care of business. Gone are the days of waiting and hoping a player develops into a franchise quarterback.

Now is the time to put all your chips on the table and go for it all with a quarterback that knows how to push the envelope forward and make everyone around him better. A quarterback that has a plethora of playoff and Super Bowl experience puts them in the best position to make a serious run in 2023. A quarterback that is a proven leader and worth every penny thanks to everything they bring to the table.

Rodgers brings all that and then some to a team that simply needed this more than anything this offseason. With the trade officially in the books, now the Jets can focus on building around Rodgers to ensure he has all the weapons needed to succeed. The Jets still have to add more quality to their offensive line and get more weapons for Rodgers to work with but at the end of the day, this trade is perfect for both sides.

The Packers move on. The Jets push forward. In the end, both teams are in better situations thanks to this trade being done. Hopefully, Rodgers comes in and gives the Jets what they've been waiting for since 2010 with an actual playoff berth. Anything more after that is all we can dream of at this point in time.