NY Jets QB Aaron Rodgers rejected a Patriots trade this offseason

The NY Jets made it clear from the very start that their quarterback of choice this offseason was Aaron Rodgers. Months of waiting and recruiting later, the team finally landed him in a trade.

As it turns out, the Jets may not have been the only interested team, however. In fact, one of the Jets' most heated division rivals reportedly made an offer for the four-time MVP, only to be rejected by Rodgers himself.

Fox Sports' Craig Carton (so take this with a grain of salt) reported on Wednesday that the New England Patriots proposed a trade to the Green Bay Packers this offseason, but Rodgers refused to play for New England.

Not only did Rodgers reportedly refuse to play for the Patriots, but his agent reaffirmed his client's commitment to play for the Jets. It was always going to be the Jets, at least according to Carton.

"The New England Patriots made an offer to the Green Bay Packers to get Aaron Rodgers. When Aaron Rodgers heard it, his agent said no, we ain’t playing for New England, we want to be a Jet."

- Craig Carton

Aaron Rodgers always wanted to play for the NY Jets

Again, it's impossible to know how true this report is, and Carton is the only one to report it, but there are some details that add up. For starters, the Patriots were reportedly shopping their own starting quarterback, Mac Jones, this offseason.

It's very believable that Bill Belichick was looking for a quarterback upgrade this offseason, especially in a way that would stick it to his bitter rivals. After all, that's part of the reason the Patriots chose to trade down with the Pittsburgh Steelers in this year's draft. Never discount that factor when it comes to Belichick.

We also have heard reports that other teams were interested in Rodgers. The San Francisco 49ers reportedly showed interest in the future Hall of Famer before his public commitment to join the Jets.

It sure seems as though Rodgers had other teams to choose from — he just chose the Jets.

Rodgers will have an opportunity to add a new chapter to the Jets/Patriots rivalry in 2023 as he looks to help his team defeat their archrivals for the first time since 2015.

The Jets have lost 14 consecutive games against New England and haven't beaten them in regulation since the 2010-11 postseason. Rodgers has a chance to change that.

If Carton's report is accurate, that would be perhaps the clearest indication that times have changed in the AFC East. One of the greatest quarterbacks of all time chose to join the Jets over the longtime powerhouse Patriots.

That feels pretty darn good.