Sauce Gardner 'hoping' Jets land Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner may have accidentally sparked some concern within the fan base regarding the team's expected trade for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

As shared by Ryan Chichester of Audacy, Gardner explained during an appearance on the "New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce" podcast how he started messaging Rodgers this offseason amid rumors linking the future Hall of Famer with the Jets. 

Gardner humorously reminded Rodgers of the cheesehead the then-rookie sported following a victory at Green Bay's Lambeau Field this past October. 

"My first text message to him was a picture of the cheesehead," Gardner remarked. "I didn’t even say no words, I just sent him a picture and hit send. He just texted me back, 'Why do you have that? Lol.'" 

Gardner added he "would never expect to be able to have somebody" such as the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player as a teammate. 

"I’m hoping it happens," Gardner said about the much-discussed trade for Rodgers. "That would just be great for me and the whole organization." 

There is currently no indication the Jets and Packers are close to completing a transaction involving Rodgers as the two sides reportedly bicker over draft-pick compensation and protection in the event that the 39-year-old retires after a single season with Gang Green. 

Unless something changes during negotiations, it seems more likely a trade will happen at some point after June 1 than before the draft gets underway on the night of April 27. 

It was only back on April 7 when Jets general manager Joe Douglas confidently declared in front of a crowd of fans that Rodgers is "gonna be here." 

Gardner simply may have offered a throwaway line during an interview, or he may have revealed some New York players are at least slightly worried no trade has been announced as 2021 first-round draft pick Zach Wilson begins springtime workouts presumably as the club's QB1.