NY Jets news: Aaron Rodgers has a chip on his shoulder, Sheldon Rankins walks

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Aaron Rodgers / Douglas P. DeFelice/GettyImages

The NY Jets are going to trade for Aaron Rodgers. It's unclear when it will happen, but it's become evident that it's going to be a reality following Rodgers' appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday.

Not only are the Jets getting one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, but they appear to be bringing in a motivated version of Rodgers with a clear chip on his shoulder.

Rodgers basked the Green Bay Packers organization during his interview on Wednesday and was clearly upset with the way they handled and communicated everything this offseason.

Rodgers seems determined to prove the Packers and his doubters wrong. He knows many are already writing him off — he's out to silence his critics in 2023. If this is the version of Rodgers the Jets are getting next season, the entire NFL world better watch out.

"He mentioned the front office... This is who the Green Bay Packers are. He's exactly right."@GregJennings, Aaron Rodgers' former teammate, on Rodgers' comments, Green Bay's front office and the new chip on the QB's shoulder pic.twitter.com/KeORBXsyLs
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) March 15, 2023

Other NY Jets news

Sheldon Rankins departs in free agency

It flew under the radar amidst the Aaron Rodgers news, but the Jets lost one of their defensive starters on Wednesday as defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins left to sign a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Houston Texans.

The Jets were very interested in re-signing Rankins but ultimately decided not to pay him what the Texans offered. The team also lost backup defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd to the New Orleans Saints, but they did re-sign Solomon Thomas to a one-year, $3.9 million deal.

Thomas is one of four defensive tackles currently on the Jets' roster, along with Quinnen Williams, Tanzel Smart, and Isaiah Mack. It's pretty clear that the Jets have a sizable hole to fill at the defensive tackle position.

The Jets nearly signed Fletcher Cox before he opted to return to Philadelphia, per reports. Expect the team to continue scouring the free agent market with the option to turn to the draft as well.

Two Jets restricted free agents leave

The Jets opted not to tender the contracts of two restricted free agents, running back James Robinson and wide receiver Jeff Smith. On Wednesday, both players found new homes.

Robinson signed a surprisingly expensive two-year, $8 million contract with the New England Patriots, while Smith will stay in East Rutherford as he signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants.

It's a bit surprising that Robinson received such a hefty contract given his lackluster production last season, but the Patriots are expecting him to be fully recovered from the torn Achilles he suffered in late 2021. It clearly affected him this past season.

Smith joins the likes of Lawrence Cager and Jason Pinnock as Jets castoffs who have found a home with the Giants. It appears this current Giants regime is a fan of former Jets players.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.