It’s been talked about for quite some time, and at long last, Aaron Rodgers is on the move, joining the New York Jets on Monday, creating a massive shakeup days before the NFL Draft in Kansas City.

The four-time league MVP had publicly mentioned that he would like to join the Jets weeks ago, and Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst finally granted him that wish, getting a substantial amount back as a result.

As you might expect, acquiring an ex-Super Bowl champion and MVP, not to mention a man who has led the league in passer rating on four occasions, will come at a hefty cost.

In the deal, the Jets receive the Packers’ first and fifth-round selections when the draft takes place April 27-29, while Green Bay will take New York’s first, second and sixth-round choices this week, plus a conditional second-rounder in 2024, assuming Rodgers plays 65% of the plays for the Jets this season.

If not, then that second-round selection next year would become a first-rounder.

New York was on the hunt for an established QB for a while, with Zach Wilson, Mike White and Joe Flacco all starting games for them in 2022, though neither did enough to earn the starting job permanently.

According to sources, legendary Jets pivot Joe Namath gave Rodgers his blessing to wear the #12, the jersey which he famously wore during his playing days in New Jersey, and the number that Rodgers dawned in Green Bay.

However, the new Jets quarterback is expected to instead wear the #8, which he did in college for the California Golden Bears.

It marks the end of an era for Rodgers in Wisconsin, where he led the Cheeseheads to 11 playoff appearances and a world championship during the 2010 season.

Rodgers had played his entire 18-year career with the Packers, the most in franchise history, while he has thrown for the second-most passing yards in their history (59,055) behind only his predecessor behind centre, Brett Favre.

What that means for New York is that they will inherit Rodgers’ massive contract, which includes $59.465 million guaranteed in salary and bonus this season, with most of that made up of a $58.3 million bonus due no later than Week 1 of the upcoming regular season.

As for Green Bay, they will absorb $40.3 million in dead money from this trade on their salary cap.

Fortunately for the Jets, Rodgers’ bonus money is prorated, which means that he will count $15.8 million next season and $32.5 million in 2024.

Following the trade announcement, the Jets’ Super Bowl odds increased significantly, as Caesars Sportsbook put them at 14-1, with the Packers moving down to 50-1.

New York’s playoff odds have been set at -150, with Green Bay’s being +170 and Rodgers at 18-1 to capture a fifth MVP trophy.

The Jets have missed the playoffs in 12 straight seasons, the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest in club history.

Their new 39-year-old QB is coming off his worst season as a pro, tossing a dozen interceptions in 2022, one less than in his three previous regular-season’s combined, while he threw for the fewest yards (3,695) in any season in which he has featured in a minimum of 15 games.

He also did not have a single 300-yard passing game last season after never having a campaign with fewer than three such encounters before that.

Rodgers will be reunited with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett in New York, with the two previously working together in Green Bay from 2019-2021.

Over that span Rodgers collected two MVP trophies, earned three Pro Bowl selections, and was named an All-Pro twice.

He leaves Green Bay as the Packers’ franchise leader in touchdown passes (475), completion percentage (65.3) and passer rating (103.6), while ranking second behind only Favre in passing yards (59,055) and completions (5,001).

In his NFL career, he has thrown the fifth-most touchdowns in NFL history (475) and has the best touchdown-to-interception ratio (475-105) in league history.

The end of the Rogers era in Green Bay likely means the beginning for Jordan Love, the team’s first-round selection in 2020, who has primarily held a clipboard as Rodgers’ backup since then.