New York Jets coach Robert Saleh said he believes four-time Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers will be his quarterback in 2023.
While Rodgers has said he wants to play for the Jets in the upcoming season, New York and the Green Bay Packers have yet to come to trade terms. Saleh told reporters Monday at the league owners meeting in Phoenix that he is “confident” a trade will happen.
“I’m not hitting the panic button,” said Saleh, who didn’t state Rodgers’ name because of league tampering rules but made it clear who he was talking about.
He added: “I’m confident that things are going to work out. You guys know me. I’m a very positive person and optimistic, so I’m confident that things will go the way we’re hoping. But at the same time, it’s not going to eat at me.”
Jets general manager Joe Douglas, meeting with reporters later in the day, went so far as to rule out a possible pivot from Rodgers to Lamar Jackson, who revealed Monday he requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens back on March 2.
Douglas worked as a scout for the Ravens from 2000-2014 and has relationships with that front office, but he wouldn’t bite.
“First of all, Lamar Jackson is a fantastic player, but where we stand is, it would be disingenuous and negotiating in bad faith if we went down that path,” Douglas said. “We have our plan, we have our process and we’re sticking to that. … We’re never going to operate in bad faith.”
ESPN reported Monday that the Packers want compensation for Rodgers that includes the Jets’ first-round draft pick, No. 13 overall, but the Jets are balking at the request.
While it would be beneficial for Rodgers and the Jets for him to be on board when the offseason program begins in mid-April, Saleh implied he isn’t in a hurry because of Rodgers’ familiarity with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who held that job in Green Bay for three seasons.
“If there’s a great rapport with the coordinator, there’s really no urgency,” Saleh said. “The quarterback, if he understands the system, if the quarterback knows it, it’s just a matter of just refining skills and doing all that stuff. So, there’s no hurry.”
Saleh also said he’d like to pair free agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
Saleh said the Jets are intrigued by the 30-year-old veteran.
“He’s been a fantastic receiver in this league,” Saleh said. “Everything you hear about him, he’s a phenomenal person. That’s something you’re always going to look over, turn over every stone, cross your Ts, dot your Is, just make sure you’re, you’re not missing an opportunity to add a great player. And there’s no guarantee anything will happen.”
–Field Level Media
