The New York Jets were supposed to contend for a Super Bowl in 2023. They traded a first and second round pick (and a conditional second round pick) to the Green Bay Packers for four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. With a future Hall of Famer under center, the Jets busied themselves with surrounding him with “his guys.”
Allen Lazard was signed to a four-year $44 million contract before the trade even occurred. Nathaniel Hackett was hired as offensive coordinator in an attempt to convince Rodgers to accept a trade to New York. After the trade, the added Randall Cobb, Billy Turner, and Tim Boyle.
Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers Teammates Did Not Play Well for the New York Jets
While the Jets may blame their disastrous 2023 season on Rodgers’ Achilles injury early in Week One, the fact of the matter is that the buddies he insisted playing didn’t play well. Zach Wilson may be the scapegoat, but it is foolish to pretend that Rodgers’ insistence that the Jets fill their roster with his friends, and their willingness to do so, also did not contribute to the long season.
Lazard had 23 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown, his worst season since his rookie year when he played one game and had one catch for seven yards. Cobb had the worst year of his career, too, catching five passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. It was the first time in his career he did not have at least 25 catches and 375 yards.
Billy Turner played less than 25% of the offense’s snaps, which is concerning since New York’s offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL. If Turner could not get any playing time on that line, well, he’s not getting any playing time elsewhere.
Boyle was forced to start two games in Rodgers’ absence and after Wilson was benched. He proceeded to throw one touchdown and four interceptions on his way to being released.
And yet, one of the biggest talking points of the offseason has been what other former Packers teammates the Jets can get to play with Rodgers.
There Is “No Chance” the New York Jets Can Get Davante Adams for Aaron Rodgers
The Jets attempted to trade for Davante Adams ahead of last year’s trade deadline. Obviously, the Raiders were unwilling to trade Adams then. There was some hope in New York that perhaps they would be able to figure out a deal during the offseason.
That, however, does not seem possible. According to Troy Pauline of Sportskeeda:
“No one in Las Vegas believes trading Adams to the Jets is remotely possible. That was true in November, and that is still true as we move through the third week of February.
“The reasons given to me just this week run parallel to those I reported more than three months ago. Adams is valued by the Raiders’ franchise on the field and in the locker room, he’s part of the winning culture new head coach Antonio Pierce wants on the team and, more than anything else, the Jets won’t meet the asking price.”
On top of this, it also seems like the Raiders are intent on building their offense around Adams. One-tenth of their coaching staff is made up of coaches who spent time with Adams in Green Bay.
Of course, there is still one other former Rodgers teammate that may become available, one that the Packers might even trade to New York in a heartbeat: oft-injured left tackle David Bakhtiari.
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