Aaron Rodgers contract move creates $43.7 million in cap space after trade

[{"selector":"#anim-0e22c679-de80-4e8e-9bf9-a34aadfe142d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a88925cc-e879-47c3-8264-8e8da4b9823f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a689d6f5-af1d-4290-b451-1601d08f233b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -456.61371%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Aaron Rodgers is a costly quarterback. Even after acquiring the future Hall of Famer from the Green Bay Packers, the New York Jets created almost $40 million in salary space.

[{"selector":"#anim-9eff2d43-c228-44f6-b064-5caa99d6bf9b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce27ba52-9479-4a36-b9e8-92f063a9e144","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb97cf93-12f6-4d87-b337-7de45f37ec73","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -877.9243%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] “For his 2023 salary, the #Jets picking up Aaron Rodgers’ already guaranteed option bonus of $58.3M

[{"selector":"#anim-be7d90ed-5742-4c6a-95b1-166a41b2c781 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(12.65698580159898%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-823e0cf1-9811-4041-8ad5-739eb2b01951","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afa39124-476b-4652-80ce-a6d35535d054","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -619.22221%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] means that it converts to a signing bonus for cap reasons—creating $43.7M of cap space and making his 2023 hit $15.7M.”

[{"selector":"#anim-2bc7f21d-9dae-4ce6-9c76-287dd473ce3e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f21b299e-f919-4214-b0c5-298b5c63f84a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f411a96-08f6-4c8e-9e7d-421712e6d8d6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -631.22222%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Spotrac lists Aaron Rodgers' 2023 NFL base pay as $1.165 million with a $50,000 workout bonus. As expected,

[{"selector":"#anim-626bee9b-bbca-4d97-a5ec-b0b4d98d316f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c47f2737-6b5e-4606-b9b9-122e9174ad3f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4310071-505b-4d7b-9e30-0188981f5a41","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -526.41165%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] As expected, the Jets picked up the $58 million option bonus and can distribute it throughout Rodgers' contract, which runs until the 2026 NFL season.

[{"selector":"#anim-dd7b986e-cb76-4fbd-a578-8f1c0789f4ed [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-201072b5-1f06-4be4-8bde-7d2914d10ed9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7bb72508-c965-48aa-bd2e-2894b6546bf6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -442.32799%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Aaron Rodgers was traded to the Jets for a 2023 NFL Draft No. 15 pick and a fifth-round pick. Green Bay sent a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2021 conditional second-round pick that may become a first-round pick.

[{"selector":"#anim-4293c94a-1390-4358-b5cb-701211c691f9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdb9f228-fd7a-4d5a-82c3-3f67c5cb3a81","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d487aa3a-058e-450b-9196-75f3face63f9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -432.12393%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Aaron Rodgers gives the Jets a top-tier quarterback. Rodgers will try to help New York's dismal offense. Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Joe Flacco took turns at quarterback for the Jets in 2022, and the offense faltered.

[{"selector":"#anim-811f18a4-2d07-4492-b348-b22bbba3bd5e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(11.474259200379505%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-affb3b12-e127-408c-aeb9-c27dee1cecdc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be9725a7-058c-47fe-81cf-0f1b93147b58","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -825.29272%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Jets averaged 17.4 points and 318.2 yards per game that season, ranking 29th and 25th, respectively.