Jets GM: Lamar Jackson Pursuit Would Be 'In Bad Faith' amid Aaron Rodgers Trade Talks

It has been assumed Aaron Rodgers will play for the New York Jets after the Green Bay Packers quarterback said that was his plan earlier this month, but Lamar Jackson's trade request may have given the AFC East team another signal-caller to pursue this offseason.

However, Jets general manager Joe Douglas does not plan to explore that avenue.

"It would be disingenuous and operating, negotiating in bad faith if we went down that path," he told reporters Monday. "Right now, we have our plan, we have our process, and we're sticking to that."

Jackson revealed on Twitter he requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens on March 2 and explained the team "has not been interested in meeting my value" and that he "had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I."

Baltimore placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on the quarterback this offseason, which means he can negotiate with other teams. The Ravens will have the right to match any offer and would receive two first-round draft picks if they chose not to and allow him to leave.

As for the Jets and Packers, they are in an unusual situation.

Rodgers is technically still with Green Bay, but his public declaration that he plans to play for New York impacted the leverage on both sides as they attempt to come to terms on a trade.

On the one hand, it would be quite the failure if the Jets didn't add the future Hall of Famer to a team that may be a quarterback away from competing for an AFC playoff berth.

On the other hand, Rodgers didn't exactly set up a situation to remain with the NFC North team if there is no trade. He also has a salary-cap hit of $31.6 million and a dead cap hit of $99.8 million, per Spotrac, so there is no shortage of motivation for Green Bay to move him.

Perhaps the Jets could have used the Jackson situation as leverage in their negotiations with the Packers and said they would pursue the 2019 MVP if Green Bay didn't lower the price for Rodgers.

But Douglas made it clear that will not be the case, so the assumption remains that Rodgers will eventually suit up with New York.