Would Aaron Rodgers join the Jets? What a trade for the QB might cost

It’s nearly the anniversary of that time the Jets flew a legendary Packers quarterback to Cleveland and crammed him into a small interview room at the Browns’ stadium before a preseason game to introduce him as their next quarterback.

“This is unique,” Brett Favre said on that day, Aug. 7, 2008.

That marriage worked until it didn’t. The Jets started the 2008 season 8-3, Favre suffered an injury (but played through it), they lost four of their last five games and coach Eric Mangini was fired. The Packers wanted to trade Favre — the Jets only had to give up a conditional fourth-round pick for the 39-year-old — because of who they had waiting in the wings:

A 25-year-old Aaron Rodgers.

Fifteen years later, and here we are, a legendary 39-year-old Packers quarterback (Rodgers, four MVPs, a Super Bowl and 10 Pro Bowl selections later) possibly on his way out to make way for a young quarterback waiting in the wings (Jordan Love) … with the Jets on line one.

Rodgers has said he hasn’t made any decisions about whether he’ll even play in 2023 — or if he wants that to be in Green Bay — but as the Jets desperately seek an upgrade at quarterback, expect them to be involved in any trade discussions if the Packers do seriously consider moving him.

“All the trade stuff is conjecture until I decide what I want to do moving forward for myself,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday.

But if Rodgers does keep playing and becomes available? Expect the Jets to be in heavy pursuit. What would that look like?

Here’s everything to consider with Rodgers and the Jets.

Would the Packers actually trade him?

The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, who covers the Packers, wrote this about Rodgers on Tuesday: It seems as if the Packers still believe Rodgers gives them the best chance to win right now. Whether that’s more an endorsement of Rodgers or an indictment of Love remains unknown. Whatever cap hell the Packers find themselves in down the road will be worth it if they win a second Super Bowl with Rodgers.

Rodgers, though, sounded prepared for the possibility of playing for another team when he spoke to McAfee on Tuesday.

“If they feel like it was in the best interests of the team to move forward, so be it,” he said. “Again, that wouldn’t offend me, and it wouldn’t make me feel like a victim. I wouldn’t have any animosity towards the team. I love the organization, I love the city, I love the region. … I have a lot of love for what’s gone on in Green Bay. And I’d love to finish there, I would. I might have finished there. Who knows?”

Even at 39, coming off his worst season in a while, Rodgers would likely still net a significant trade return. Plus, the Packers could get out from enough of the $110 million remaining on the extension he signed last offseason to have some financial breathing room while rolling with a quarterback (Love) still on his rookie contract.

GO DEEPER

Packers mailbag: Should they go with Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love? Why no coaching changes?

What would it take to get Rodgers?

Here’s the return on some recent notable quarterback trades:

• The