Despite Changing Towns & Uprooting Life, $200 Million Worth Aaron Rodgers Could End Up Making Less Than Protege Zac Wilson in Debut New York Year

QB Aaron Rodgers has built a legacy for himself at the Green Bay Packers. In a career spanning over 17 seasons at Green Bay, the 4X MVP led them to win the Super Bowl XLV in 2010. Following the footsteps of another Packers QB legend Brett Favre, Rodgers recently moved to the New York Jets. And now, the franchise along with its fans are hoping that Aaron Rodgers can lead them to another Super Bowl victory since 1969, when Hall of Fame QB Joe Namath led the Jets to a ring.

But despite all the hype surrounding A-Rod’s arrival in New York, the Jets are still figuring out how to restructure the contract he had with the Packers prior to the trade. Despite being the preferred QB1 ahead of Zach Wilson for the team, Rodgers might still end up making less than Wilson in his debut for the Jets. That is unless a viable restructuring comes into play.

A-Rod’s contract still being negotiated? 

During a recent episode of NFL on NBC, NFL insider Mike Florio discussed the ongoing situation of the Rodgers contract at the Jets. He talked about the recent interview he had with Jets GM Joe Douglas on the situation that surrounds the contract restructuring.

During his interview with the GM, Douglas said that while they were aware of the Packers and Rodgers working things out related to his contract, they did not want the cap hit to, “go higher than it was at the time that we agreed to it.” He also revealed that they were not aware of the number actually going down to the minimum. So for 2023, Aaron Rodgers is going to make $1.165 million. He also has an option bonus of $58.3 million. Since he decided to push his $58.3 million to next year, it means that he is set to earn around $107.55 million in 2024. Whereas Zach Wilson will be making $940,000 in salary in 2023, along with a roster bonus of around $2 million. This means that Wilson will be making more than the 4X MVP QB this year, that is unless the Jets restructure Rodgers’ contract.

Read more: Despite Back-to-Back MVPs, Ex-QB Reveals Aaron Rodgers “Taken for Granted” by Coach Matt LeFleur & Green Bay Packers

While Douglas stated that they are working on restructuring the contract for a more viable option, Mike Florio made his own suggestions that could help the Jets negotiate a better contract with their 4X MVP QB.

What can the Jets do with the contract now?

In the same episode, Florio talked about how the Jets need to decide the amount they want to retain this year and the amount they wish to push for next year. He felt that if Rodgers decides to play for only one year, then the Jets would “want the $58.3 million this year or something close to it this year.” He also talked about how there is a possibility that Aaron Rodgers could tell his agent to “cut that number down as a favor to the Jets.” This would mean that the team will have more money to bolster their newly acquired QB on the field with more talents. 

So while fans will be excited to watch their newly acquired QB take on the field for them in 2023, the Jets will like to finalize a restructuring of the contract as soon as possible. And maybe finalize something that will end in a win-win for both the QB and the team.

Watch this story: Tom Brady’s controversial pandemic move taken as example to show Aaron Rodgers isn’t doing enough with the Jets