As the NFL Draft is ready to get underway later this week, another story rocked the league early this week. Let’s take a look at this major story as well as other news from around the National Football League from this week.
Packers And Jets In Agreement On Rodgers Trade
In a monumental piece of news on Monday, the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets appear to be on the same page in terms of a trade package for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
First reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal sees a strong return for the Packers. The Packers and Jets will trade first-round picks this year, with the Packers moving up to 13th overall.
Green Bay will also acquire the Jets’ second and sixth-round pick this year, and a 2024 conditional second-round pick, which could move up to a first-round pick if Rodgers plays at least 65% of the Jets’ offensive plays this upcoming season.
In addition to Rodgers, the Jets get the Packers’ first-round pick this year (No. 15 overall) as well as a 2023 fifth-round pick.
For Green Bay, this marks the end of an era as Rodgers has been in Green Bay since 2005, when he was drafted 24th overall. Since then, he started in 223 games, throwing for 59,055 yards and 475 touchdowns.
They will now turn their attention to Jordan Love, hoping they can catch lightning in a bottle again and continue a string of Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks as Brett Favre and Rodgers have been under center since 1992.
For Rodgers, he moves onto a Jets team that has been desperate for a quarterback. Last year, the Jets ranked 15th in passing yards, averaging 219 yards per game. They ranked 31st in passing touchdowns per game, though, averaging just 0.9.
Last season, Rodgers threw for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions over 17 games. With receivers like Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis, Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman at his disposal, the sky could be the limit this season for Rodgers and the Jets.
They currently sit with the second-best odds of winning the AFC East at +250, and they are tied for the sixth-best odds of winning the Super Bowl at +1400.
Jameson Williams And Four Others Suspended
In a bizarre story, Detroit Lions’ receiver Jameson Williams has been suspended for six games by the NFL for breaking the NFL’s betting policy.
Drafted 12th overall in last year’s draft, the 22-year-old Williams missed most of the season as he recovered from a torn ACL. In fact, he only had one catch last season, although the one reception went for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Still, Williams was expected to play a much bigger role this season in the Lions’ offense.
In addition to Williams, the Lions’ Quintez Cephus, C.J. Moore, Stanley Berryhil and the Washington Commanders’ Shaka Toney were also suspended. The Lions have since parted ways with Cephus and Moore.
While NFL players are permitted to bet on sports other than the NFL, they are not allowed to do so in NFL premises. It appears that was the case in this situation where Williams and others bet using their mobile phones in the stadium.
At +130, the Lions currently have the best odds of winning the NFC North.
