Aaron Rodgers-49ers whispers get louder as Jets scramble for deal

Weeks after WFAN host, Craig Carton, floated the possibility that the 49ers could emerge as a potential landing spot for Aaron Rodgers — should negotiations between the Jets and Packers implode — Tiki Barber echoed a similar sentiment Wednesday. Learn more

“All of this little simmering, it’s not even like smoke coming out of this thing, it’s just a little crinkling of flames starting to burgeon up under the leaves about Aaron Rodgers actually going to the 49ers as opposed to the Jets now has some validity."

“If they trade Trey Lance and Brock Purdy isn’t available to play this year because of UCL surgery, Sam Darnold is not, I promise you, is not starting for the 49ers. They will go get, and they’re okay to mortgage their future because they don’t care, they’re not worried about losing their jobs."

"They’ve done it before. They’ve gotten to the championship game, they’ve gotten deep in the playoffs. This team will go get Aaron Rodgers if he’s available, and the Jets, the premise we started this with, will be stuck sitting out in the cold with their underwear on and that’s it.”

Carton previously mentioned “the conversation has been multiple third-round picks in this draft, and a first-round draft pick in next year’s draft” in regard to possible compensation.

The 49ers do not have a first- or second-round pick in this year’s draft.

San Francisco sent its 2023 first-round selection to the Dolphins two years ago as part of a package to move up in the 2021 NFL Draft when they selected quarterback Trey Lance third overall.

The former North Dakota State product, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, has been the subject of recent trade rumors in the lead-up to this year’s draft, which kicks off from Kansas City next Thursday.

Rogers, who has spent his entire 18-year career with the Packers, stated in March on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he intends to play for the Jets in 2023.

In the same breath, however, Rodgers claimed Green Bay has been “kind of digging their heels in” over potential compensation, which remains the sticking point in negotiations with the Jets.

At the moment, the Jets hold the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft, in addition to two second-rounders at No. 42 and 43. The 49ers are owners of three third-round picks, beginning with the No. 99 overall selection.

Though Rodgers is still a member of the Packers as of Thursday, he’s already practicing like a Jet. He was spotted working out with friend and former Packers teammate Allen Lazard, weeks after the Jets signed the wide receiver to a four-year, $44 million deal. Learn more