Aaron Rodgers hits practice field with Jets for first time; details emerge on ‘23 salary and cap hit

NEW YORK — Remember how excited your first day of school was when you were a kid?

Aaron Rodgers had a similar feeling during his introductory press conference Wednesday after the trade to the Jets was made official.

Rodgers was smiling from ear to ear as he left behind 18 years with the Packers. Now he hopes to bring some of that similar success to a Jets franchise that’s been starving for just a trip to the playoffs.

Rodgers, who has a Super Bowl MVP on his resume, made the playoffs three out of the last four seasons in Green Bay and 11 times overall. Meanwhile, the Jets haven’t made the playoffs since 2010

“This feeling of this new chapter, a new adventure,” Rodgers said. “There was this deep sigh that you take when all is right in the world and it is exciting, the adventure and the journey is unknown.

“The mysteriousness. That’s the beauty of life is that you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite all-time favorite shows, 'The Office,' is ‘I wish they told you, you were in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.’ There’s a lot of wisdom to that, to just enjoy how special this moment is and how this journey is going to be.

“I’m just going to soak it all up. I can’t wait to meet our fan base and get out there and practice with the guys and just enjoy every little moment.”

Rodgers practiced with the Jets for the first time Thursday as the team is currently in Phase 1 of their offseason program. That mostly consists of players going to meetings and doing strength and conditioning drills. On the Jets’ official Twitter feed, Rodgers is seen throwing a football to wide receiver Allen Lazard, who signed with the team last month.

Before the trade was announced Wednesday, Rodgers’ agent David Dunn and the Packers converted the 39-year-old’s $58.3 million 2023 option bonus into 2024 salary, according to a report by ESPN. That means Rodgers is scheduled to make only $1.17 million this year (which will also be his team-friendly cap charge) but nearly $108 million during the 2024 season. That consists of the original $47 million option bonus for the 2024 season plus $1.21 million in minimum salary, along with the $58.3 million bonus from this year.

Obviously, the Jets will restructure Rodgers’ contract so they can spread the money over the remaining part of his contract during the next three years. Under his contract with the Packers — the three-year, $150 million extension he signed in 2022 — the Jets would have only been on the hook for a $15.8 million cap charge. Although that is a small chunk of change for a four-time NFL MVP, it would have put the Jets significantly over the salary cap this year.

The Jets currently have $10.2 million available and some of that money will be used on their 2023 draft picks.

Rodgers told reporters that Dunn and the Jets are already discussing another reworking of his contract. Despite the Jets giving up a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 conditional second-rounder that can turn into a first-round pick if he plays more than 65% of his snaps, Rodgers remains noncommittal on playing past the 2023 campaign.

“They definitely gave up some picks for me to be here,” Rodgers said. “This isn’t like a one-and-done in my mind. This is a commitment that just starts with this season and that’s why I want to be present and not talk about future things.

“It’s about being fully committed for that season. If that rubbed some people the wrong way, so be it. I’m excited to be here and we will figure out all that other stuff down the line.”

Rodgers will join a Jets team that feels like they’re on the cusp of greatness in the AFC and their own division. Last season, the Jets finished fourth in yards and points allowed, a year after they were last in both categories.

However, the offense received a bulk of the blame for Gang Green’s 7-10 record, which includes a six-game losing streak to end the year. The Jets were 29th in points per game and 25th in yards per game.

“I’m not showing up to be part of a team that’s just OK,” Rodgers said. “Obviously, the team has a lot of pieces in place. Rookies of the year on both sides of the ball, really solid defense, great scheme, one of my favorite offensive minds [Nathaniel Hackett] that I’ve ever been around.

“I believe in our system, stud running back, stud receiver, depth in receiver room and tight end. I just need to fit in and do my job. That being said, there’s a handful of teams who can win it. Most people don’t say that out loud. I believe we are one of those teams.”

Not only will Rodgers look to lead the Jets to success on the field, but he also wants to provide guidance behind the scenes. Former starting quarterback and 2021 No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson will be Rodgers’ backup.

In 22 career games with the Jets, Wilson has battled injuries and inconsistent play that led to his benching multiple times last season.

Following the season, Wilson said he planned to make “life a living hell in practice every day” for whoever the Jets brought in to compete with him.

Rodgers joked about Wilson’s quote. The two have been friends since the Packers hosted the Jets in a joint practice in 2021.

“He’s going to make my life hell in practice, and I’m going to make his life heaven off the field,” Rodgers said. “I really enjoy Zach a lot and we got to start a friendship and it has just grown over the years.

“He hits me up from time to time during the season and the offseason, we spend time together. I love him, I really do and I feel like part of my role here is to help him get his confidence back.

“The team believes in him and I care about his feelings and I really believe in him. You see the talent and the ability and I think being around me and seeing how I go about my business and how I lead and interact with the guys. I think being around me and our friendship that goes back some years now will be really special to see him grow.”