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Wednesday Cheese Curds: Roads not taken

The Packers and Jets ended up here as much because of what they didn’t do as what they did.

SPORTS-FBN-BIGGS-COLUMN-SPORTSPLUS-TB Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Our first link today raises what I think is a really good point, one that applies to both the Jets and the Packers.

“Think of the roads the Jets chose not to travel this offseason,” writes Mike Tanier for Football Outsiders. “There was Derek Carr, of course. They could have inquired about Trey Lance. The way the draft board is starting to shape up, they could also have tried to muscle their way up to land C.J. Stroud or one of the other rookie quarterbacks.”

The Jets ultimately chose to trade for Rodgers, either because general manager Joe Douglas believes he’s the answer or because owner Woody Johnson mandated it. But by making that choice, they chose not to take some other, potentially viable options. They chose one path at the expense of others.

The same is true of the Packers, albeit extending back further into history. They ended up at this point with Rodgers in part of what they chose not to do. They chose not to stand pat and take a receiver in 2020, then chose not to trade a disgruntled Rodgers in consecutive offseasons. They chose not to commit to Jordan Love last spring.

I don’t say this as a criticism of either side. There are perfectly legitimate reasons to do everything both the Packers and Jets have done, both this offseason and previously. But those other paths were still there, and they’ll be a part of the long-term evaluation process. What you don’t do is as much a part of your decisions as what you do. To loosely quote Rush, choosing not to choose is still making a choice.

Aaron Rodgers and the Jets: Low Floor, Low Ceiling | Football Outsiders

An analytics-based look at the Jets’ trade for Aaron Rodgers.

National writers grade and analyze the Packers’ trade of Aaron Rodgers | Packers News

Grades, grades, grades! Get your grades here!

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 3, Notre Dame Edge Rusher Isaiah Foskey | Packers Wire

If the Packers want a Day 2 edge, Foskey could be a good option.

2023 NFL draft buzz: Latest rumors, notes on teams, picks, QBs | ESPN+

The rumors get wild at this point in the pre-draft process.

Pete Prisco’s what teams ‘should’ do 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Panthers take Will Levis with No. 1 pick | CBS Sports

Prisco talks himself into some wild stuff here, too.

New Orleans student accepted to 125 schools, receives $9M in scholarship offers | UPI

The student says he’ll announce his decision on May 2, and I hope he does it with a National Signing Day-esque table full of various hats.