The New York Jets want Aaron Rodgers, and the Green Bay Packers want the Jets’ first-round draft pick.
The latter isn’t likely to happen, as the Jets have built their roster through the draft in recent years and see how first-round selections have turned the franchise around.
New York sits in an interesting spot this year with the 13th overall pick.
In the last 10 drafts, the 13th pick has produced eight Pro Bowlers, as many as the No. 1 pick, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini and Pro Football Reference. No other slot in the first round has that many.
Those eight players drafted at pick 13 have combined for 21 Pro Bowl seasons and eight All-Pro selections, compared to 17 and two at No. 1, respectively.
New #Jets WR Allen Lazard tells @TMZ_Sports Aaron Rodgers was “a big reason” he’s now a Jet, adding that he has zero concerns that an NY trade for the QB could fall through. pic.twitter.com/yNBdHA2qPe
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 26, 2023
In Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft, he projects the Jets to pick Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones. The Jets’ biggest needs — barring quarterback, assuming the Rodgers trade gets done — are on the offensive and defensive line.
“The Jets don’t want to give up 13. To me, it’s that offensive lineman, whether it’s [Ohio State offensive tackle] Paris Johnson Jr. at that point or whether it’s Broderick Jones — somebody like that on the offensive line,” Kiper said.
“If you get Aaron Rodgers without the offensive line improving, you would prefer to have Aaron Rodgers with an elite, young offensive lineman coming in. That’s why they have to work that all out.”
The 2023 NFL Draft starts April 27.
READ MORE: