The New York Jets are on the precipice of learning a valuable lesson: It is not actually better to have tried and failed than failed to try.
With the perplexing revelation that Derek Carr would be signing with the New Orleans Saints, the quarterback’s choice left Gang Green with one clear option. If Robert Saleh’s Jets want to compete for a Super Bowl at any time in the near future: It is now Aaron Rodgers or bust.
Phew, it’s a good thing the Jets have a precedent for coming through with flying colors when they put all their eggs in one basket.
Gulp.
Derek Carr wanted to sign before free agency to help lure other FAs with him to his new team. He gets his wish. #Jets have always made it clear Aaron Rodgers was their 1, and weren’t moving forward with contingency plans until they knew what he wanted.
This was risk of that.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 6, 2023
Hmm, I don’t know, everyone. It might have been prudent to have contingency plans ready! Even if you’re confident you might get Rodgers, I’m not a personal fan of leaning on the decision-making of one of the more mercurial players in league history.
This sentiment applies tenfold when you are the New York Jets. Preparing for your backup options is just good business.
To be clear: As we wait (and wait) for the four-time MVP to decide on his future, it’s obvious the Jets are one of the outside frontrunners for his services. Should the 39-year-old leave Green Bay — which is starting to feel realistic with awkward endorsements of Jordan Love — a potential trade will most likely send him to New York.
Think about it.
The Jets have the Nathaniel Hackett connection — Rodgers’ offensive coordinator when he won back-to-back MVP Awards in the 2020-2021 seasons. They have the requisite elite defense, led by First-Team All-Pros Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner” and Quinnen Williams, who can support a quarterback past his prime. And between Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, and a soon-to-be-healthy Breece Hall, they have the electric offensive supporting cast that can do much of Rodgers’ work for him.
Heck, who am I kidding? I’m beating around the bush here.
The Jets are also absolutely desperate enough to give the Green Bay Packers the ludicrous trade compensation they would want to feel comfortable parting with one of the greatest QBs in franchise history. There’s nothing quite like taking advantage of a historically bottom-feeding organization trying to recover from a recent bust draft pick.
But none of this means the Jets are a lock for Rodgers. He still has to tell the Packers he wants a trade, the Jets still have to execute the trade at a price point where they’re content, and the bottom can’t fall out from under the deal.
Even if it is a standard trade process, those are a lot of QB hoops to jump through.
Folks, these are the Jets. Arguably no one in the NFL is used to unforced errors like this organization. They make falling down open manholes an art form. If they’re genuinely all-in on Rodgers — casting aside any inklings of even trying to sign a lesser signal-caller like Carr — they better hope they reel in the future Hall of Famer.
It’s either getting Rodgers to wear your uniform or potentially settling for Jimmy Garoppolo. And that’s a sheer nightmare no one in New York should subject themselves to.