Too often, decisions are made by players, coaches, and even GMs to affect the “right now”. Sign "Player X" now because the need for his position is there. Sign "contract y" because it gives me the most money right now.

That’s playing checkers. Aaron Rodgers is playing chess. He has been around long enough to see how championship teams are made and how they are squandered.

So, in taking a $35 million pay cut when he signed a new contract with the Jets, Rodgers wasn’t thinking about today. He was thinking bigger. He was thinking about February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. He was thinking even about October 31, 2023, at 4 pm ET: The NFL trade deadline.

In an interview with Peter King of NBC Sports, Rodgers said “Big names move at the trade deadline now. I wanted to make sure that if somebody valuable came available, we’d be able to get him. I’m very happy with the contract. I feel great about it.”

Rodgers wants the Jets and GM Joe Douglas to have every opportunity to add to this team now or in October before the deadline if they see a need to add a piece for a Super Bowl run.

Rodgers isn’t wrong about deadline deals. What was once a forgettable day in the NFL season has turned far more interesting in the last few seasons. Just last year we saw Roquan Smith, Robert Quinn, T.J. Hockenson, Chase Claypool, Bradley Chubb, and a plethora of other players get moved during the season.

The financial flexibility the Jets have thanks to Rodgers should be dividends if the right player becomes available during the season. The issue might become compensation as the Jets likely won’t have a first-round draft pick to deal as it will be headed to Green Bay if Rodgers plays 60% of the snaps for New York this year.

The Jets should not let compensation deter them. All hands should be on deck for a two-year Super Bowl window and damn the costs if it causes them to have a setback three years from now.

As far as the offseason. Rodgers seems very content with his decision to forego $35 million and it seems like he believes the Jets are not done adding to this team even as they gear up for their first of four preseason games.

Speaking with Kay Adams on Up and Adams, Rodgers said “I'm getting paid a lot of money. I feel great about it. Also, the team is going to be able to do some things, so it’s win win win win win. There was a guy here at practice yesterday. Not today, but we'll see what happens. There are other guys out there that might be available. So, I'm not missing that money at all. I'm loving what I'm getting paid. I'm loving being in New York.”

The ”guy here at practice” was obviously Dalvin Cook and it seems like the Jets are ready to sign the four-time Pro Bowler. More importantly, it seems like Joe Douglas knows the gift he was given by Aaron Rodgers and doesn’t intend to waste it.

Jets’ Rodgers makes it clear on and off field that he is here to win

It’s almost like the Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers isn’t the Aaron Rodgers that joined the New York Jets. The guy that was portrayed to be coming over from the Packers was a sullen, malcontent diva who was only interested in taking care of himself. That is not the guy we are seeing […]

Featured Image via Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports