Aaron Rodgers is a Jet: A look at the biggest trades in NFL history

Aaron Rodgers finally got his wish this week, with the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets agreeing to a trade package to send the quarterback to the Big Apple. This was an on-and-off again divorce with Rodgers steadily falling out of love with Green Bay. Here’s an overview of what happened and look at some of the biggest trades in NFL history.

Drafted late in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Cal, Rodgers was made to sit behind Brett Favre in Green Bay for the first few years of his career. He was placed in ‘quarterback school’ by head coach Mike McCarthy for six hours a day which involved watching film and shadowing Favre.

By 2010 Rodgers was firmly entrenched as the Packers QB and started to showcase his true talents. After an up-and-down start to the year, Rodgers and his team got hot and ended up beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers took home the MVP award for his performances in the game.

Despite the Packers being a constant threat coming out of the NFC and Rodgers’ repeated statements he wanted to continue playing, the Packers started to plan for life without him bringing in QB Drew Lock for a pre-draft visit. This game after Rodgers made it clear he was ready for the Packers to replace McCarthy as head coach.

During Rodgers’ tenure in Green Bay, the team had rarely spent draft resources on bolstering their offense around Rodgers. So their decision to use a first round pick on quarterback Jordan Love certainly wasn’t to Rodger’s liking saying he is “not thrilled by the pick, necessarily”.

The 2021 offseason brought much speculation about Rodger’s future with doubts over whether he’d be playing at all surfacing, let alone in Green Bay. The trade speculations wouldn’t go away, with teams even calling the Packers’ front office to enquire about trading for him. After sitting out most of the 2021 training camp Rodgers eventually concedes and plays in Green Bay in 2021.

Rodgers won back-to-back MVP awards in the 2020 and 2021 seasons showcasing his cerebral playmaking abilities and exceptional arm talent. Despite another tough playoff loss, he confirmed his plans to return to play for the Packers in 2022, signing a three-year, $150 million contract in March of that year.

After losing star wide receiver Davante Adams before the 2022 season, Rodgers had one of his worst seasons in a while, playing with a broken thumb at times. After the season rumors begin to circulate that would be Rodger’s last in Green Bay. This was confirmed in March 2023 on former NFL punter Pat McAfee’s podcast, with Rodgers stating his desire to be a Jet.

The Packers and Jets finally agreed on trade compensation on April 24th, 2023, a deal including first-round pick swaps and second-rounder which could become a first in 2024. Rodgers is now a New York Jet. Rarely, if ever, does a four-time MVP-winning quarterback get traded, meaning this is one of the most monumental trades in NFL history, let’s take a look at some of the others.

Despite only happening a year ago, the Seattle Seahawks trading Super Bowl-winning QB Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos was a huge moment in NFL history. The Seahawks received the Broncos’ first and second-round picks in both 2022 and 2023 alongside defensive tackle Shelby Harris and tight end Noah Fant, making this one of the biggest trade packages ever in the NFL.

Deshaun Watson was embroiled in controversy when the Cleveland Browns traded three first round picks for the quarterback. Accused of inappropriate behavior by up to 24 women, Watson settled most of these cases out of court but would be suspended for 11 games by the NFL. There are certainly a lot of layers to this trade.

Despite making his intentions to never play a down for the San Diego Chargers clear before the 2004 draft, the Chargers selected him anyway. The Chargers knew what they were doing with a deal already arranged with the New York Giants. The Giants would select QB Philip Rivers and immediately trade him along with a third round pick and future first and fifth round picks. A trade which changed NFL history.

After spending his first two years in the NFL at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Young had grown tired of their constant losing and expressed his desire to leave. The San Francisco 49ers jumped at the chance to trade for Young, only giving up a second and fourth round pick to acquire him. After a couple of years sitting behind Joe Montana in San Fran, Young would win multiple MVPs and a Super Bowl as the starter.

Long before he was Aaron Rodgers’ mentor and the Green Bay Packers quarterback, Favre was drafted in the second round of the 1991 draft by the Atlanta Falcons. After a miserable season in Atlanta, the Packers traded a first-round pick to acquire Favre. Not a bad price for a decade and a half of elite QB play and a Super Bowl.

Like Eli Manning, Elway had made his desire to not play for the team who drafted him clear. Despite this the Baltimore Colts took Elway with the first overall pick in the 1983 draft. He refused to play for the Colts and was swiftly traded for a first round pick and some players. Safe to say the Broncos won this trade with Elway leading the franchise to two Super Bowl victories.

Comfortably the biggest trade in terms of compensation in NFL history, Herschel Walker to the Vikings was truly monumental. The Vikings sent eight draft picks to the Dallas Cowboys including two first-rounders and three second-rounders. The Cowboys used these picks to build one of the greatest sides in NFL history winning three Super Bowls in four years. The Vikings let Walker walk after just three seasons.