The Jets have a QB gap. Buying and selling for the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers and pairing him with Nathaniel Hackett fixes it.

It’s all simply one other stunning Aaron Rodgers thriller, these stars which are aligning between the Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback and the extraordinarily quarterback-needy New York Jets.

To listen to Jets head coach Robert Saleh inform it, there’s nothing to it. Hiring Nathaniel Hackett, the ousted Denver Broncos head coach who beforehand served three years as Rodgers’ offensive coordinator in Inexperienced Bay? Only a coincidence. By no means thoughts that fixing the quarterback place is the Jets’ high precedence. Or that possession and the entrance workplace consider {that a} Tremendous Bowl window opens subsequent season if the best quarterback is plugged into the center of the offense.

The staff’s firm line proper now’s easy: Hackett was employed on the benefit of his résumé, and Rodgers was by no means mentioned as a possible veteran decision to New York’s downside.

It’s extraordinarily exhausting to consider that given the nexus of neediness unfolding earlier than us.

Make no mistake, these are three events that seem to want one another proper now. From the Jets requiring a giant swing at a veteran quarterback this offseason, to Hackett needing a reboot with a well-known participant, to Rodgers staring into the enamel of a Packers youth motion, an alliance in New York makes loads of sense — particularly on a staff that’s loaded with expertise and positioned to take a big step subsequent season.

There’s a win-now match right here. It’d even purchase the required time to assist Zach Wilson develop into the viable participant the Jets thought they have been getting with the No. 2 general draft choose in 2021. Would there be shifting elements? Positive, however there’s by no means going to be a high-ceiling possibility on the desk for New York that isn’t going to require some critical work.

Let’s begin with Hackett.

Positive, Nathaniel Hackett failed as a head coach however …

He failed miserably in Denver. There’s no getting round what everybody witnessed. For no matter purpose, Hackett didn’t mesh with quarterback Russell Wilson, didn’t run an offense conducive to trusting unfamiliar playmakers and appeared overwhelmed when it got here to the broad strokes of operating a whole staff on Sundays. In equity to Hackett — and we shouldn’t savage his Denver collapse with out being sincere about all of it — his offense had a ridiculous spate of accidents that didn’t assist and it appeared he spent a big portion of the season studying coach Wilson.

Like so many offensive coordinators who’ve failed badly as head coaches, there’s an argument to be made that the Denver debacle doesn’t account for the totality of what Hackett is. It’s potential that he’s higher served to be an offensive coordinator than a head coach.

There’s a exhausting reference in his favor that may’t be missed: Rodgers, who labored extraordinarily nicely with Hackett throughout back-to-back MVP seasons in Inexperienced Bay, is on record saying he thought Hackett was merely a foul slot in Denver.

As a lot as Saleh will promote his expertise with Hackett when the 2 have been along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, a way more optimistic account of Hackett is coming from Rodgers. Why? Rodgers could possibly be accessible to the Jets by way of commerce, and there’s proof of a profitable working relationship and a willingness to run it again collectively.

As a lot because the Jets is likely to be pulling their hair out concerning the Hackett rent, the fact is he’s a part of the teaching employees now. Would followers slightly he work with a man who was a back-to-back MVP beneath his watch in 2020 and 2021, or would they slightly New York roll the cube on one other quarterback and pray that it’s not one other horrible match like Wilson was? The reply must be easy. Hackett is on the employees now. It solely is sensible to aim to pair him with Rodgers.

A well-recognized answer that even accounts for Zach Wilson

I’ve been saying since December that individuals must be being attentive to the Jets on the subject of Rodgers. Even when issues have been going nicely down the stretch in Inexperienced Bay, you might see the writing on the wall. There have been far too many growing older gamers who have been seemingly going to get pink slips from a Packers entrance workplace that’s attempting to revitalize the roster with youthful and cheaper gamers. And there was seemingly going to be little urge for food for Rodgers to stay round for one more season as a few of his pals have been floated off the roster, particularly if the Packers have been going to choose up the fifth-year possibility on Jordan Love (which is anticipated to occur in Might).

Rodgers is conscious of all this. He’s continuously calculating his standing and the positioning of his trusted allies contained in the Packers. He is aware of his days are numbered. And if he in truth feels he nonetheless has the possibility to play at an MVP stage, then it’s truthful to wager he’d like to perform that his means. And if he can’t do it with all his acquainted pals in Inexperienced Bay, he may as nicely do it operating the West Coast offense that he has been banging the drum for through the previous few seasons. Guess who’s most definitely to scheme an offense within the method Rodgers needs at this level? Nathaniel Hackett.

There is a coach who wants the type of redemption and familiarity that comes from working with a high-level veteran who has a observe file with him. There is a quarterback who needs to run an offense his means, retaining extra of the facility in his palms on the line of scrimmage. Paired collectively, they’d monumental success in 2020 and 2021. Break up aside in 2022 (and neither having the companies of Davante Adams), they every fell off a cliff. Even from probably the most simplistic knowledge, neither Hackett or Rodgers ought to require a tough promote on the subject of a reunion.

Here is what’s going on behind the scenes: At the start, I believe staff proprietor Woody Johnson needs a high-level reply at quarterback in 2023. Folks can argue about whether or not Rodgers represents that, however what they will’t argue is whether or not there shall be a wealth of higher choices this offseason. Right here’s the quick reply: There received’t.

Until Lamar Jackson completely burns down his relationship with the Baltimore Ravens within the subsequent six weeks, there isn’t going to be one other quarterback accessible with the abilities and talent of Rodgers. That features Tom Brady and Derek Carr and whoever else is getting projected as a commerce or free company goal.

Even at 39, Rodgers appears like a participant who might have a number of excessive stage seasons left if he have been put in the best state of affairs. By “proper state of affairs,” we’re speaking a few staff that has an elite protection and the offensive items to steadiness out a complementary assault. With the wholesome return of operating again Breece Corridor and linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mekhi Becton — together with another additions this offseason — that staff is the Jets. Conversely, Rodgers is strictly the type of chippy, robust, all-weather quarterback who can step into New York and never flinch in December and January.

Layered into all of that is the existence of Zach Wilson. He issues, as a result of there’s an opportunity the Jets will attempt to break up the infant with the veteran quarterback they convey in for 2023. Half of the hassle shall be including a participant who can take the staff over and instantly seize on a juiced roster. The opposite half of the hassle shall be to permit Wilson to take a step again long-term, studying from what he sees and going by means of a useful reboot whereas another person resides within the highlight. One thing like that requires a participant who doesn’t miss video games and takes up the entire highlight on the quarterback place. That’s Rodgers.

It is likely to be going a little bit far to count on that he would “train” Wilson be a professional, however there’s a component of that which everybody appears to be lacking proper now. When the Packers picked Love within the first spherical of the 2020 draft, it was accomplished to cement a alternative for Rodgers. He had no alternative in that transfer, which naturally put him right into a defensive posture. But when he have been to inexperienced mild a commerce to the Jets, Rodgers could be selecting to go in and plant himself in entrance of Wilson. That places the facility squarely into Rodgers’ palms, creating an surroundings the place he’s not on the defensive on the subject of the positioning of the backup QB. It’s not remotely the identical state of affairs because the Packers deciding on Love to interchange Rodgers. And that removes an immense quantity of drama from the state of affairs.

In fact, none of this works with out hurdles. Rodgers has to determine he needs to proceed enjoying after which cross the bridge of whether or not he needs that future to be outdoors of Inexperienced Bay. Then he’d have to decide on the Jets over different potential suitors. And at last, the Packers must determine what sort of draft compensation is value taking the $40.3 million salary-cap hit, which could possibly be suffered in 2023 or unfold over two seasons if a commerce is accomplished after June 1.

The reported asking value could be two first-round picks. The true asking value is likely to be rather less. Determining what meaning continues to be a distant downside. However for the Jets, fixing this quarterback situation goes to be a trek it doesn’t matter what route is chosen. Hiring Nathaniel Hackett appears to be the primary mile marker. If the highway ends at Rodgers, New York might have accomplished far, far worse.