The Green Bay Packers drafted linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (56) with one of the picks from the Aaron Rodgers trade.
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When the Green Bay Packers traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets on April 26, 2023, they received significant draft compensation in return.
The Packers received the Jets’ first-, second- and sixth round draft picks in 2023, and New York’s second round draft pick in 2024. The Packers then traded back in the second round of the 2024 draft, sending pick No. 41 to the New Orleans Saints for picks No. 45, 168 and 190.
The Jets, meanwhile, received Aaron Rodgers, along with Green Bay’s first- and fifth round picks in 2023.
Here’s a breakdown of the players the Packers selected with the draft picks they received for Rodgers.
2023
Round 1 — No. 13
DE Lukas Van Ness
The verdict is still out on Van Ness, who was a projected starter this season before Green Bay traded for Micah Parsons in late-August.
Van Ness had four sacks, eight tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits as a rookie. He then battled through a broken right thumb in 2024 and finished with disappointing numbers of three sacks, six quarterback hits and six tackles for loss.
Van Ness had 1.5 sacks the first five games of 2025, but is currently sidelined with a foot injury.
Grade: D
Round 2 — No. 42
TE Luke Musgrave
Musgrave was off to a fast start his rookie season, with 34 receptions for 352 yards through 11 games before suffering a lacerated kidney.
That opened the door for Tucker Kraft to become Green Bay’s top tight end, and Musgrave has just 12 receptions since.
Grade: D-
Round 6 — No. 207
K Anders Carlson
Carlson missed more extra points (six) and total kicks (13) than anyone in football in 2023. He also missed at least one kick in his final five games and 10 of his last 12 contests.
Carlson had a chance to give Green Bay a 24-17 lead over San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoffs, but missed a 41-yard field goal with just more than 5 minutes left. The 49ers then drove and won the game, 24-21.
Carlson was then waived on Aug. 27, 2024.
Grade: D-
2024
Round 2 — No. 45
LB Edgerrin Cooper
Cooper is one of the NFL’s young linebacking stars.
Cooper was the only player in the NFL with 75-plus tackles, 13-plus tackles for loss, three-plus sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2024. He’s off to a somewhat quiet start in 2025, but has the ability to be a future All-Pro.
Grade: B+
Round 4 — No. 111
S Evan Williams
The Packers used pick No. 190 that they received from the Saints and packaged it with their own fourth rounder (No. 126) to move up and draft Williams at No. 111. So Williams becomes part of the Rodgers deal, although Green Bay had to use one additional draft pick to land him.
So far, it’s been worth it.
Williams is extremely bright and has been rock steady in back. He could be a long-term starter at the position.
Grade: B
Round 5 — No. 163
Jacob Monk, OL
The Packers packaged picks No. 168 and 219 to move up to pick 163 and take Monk.
Monk can play center and guard and is extremely athletic. He hasn’t been able to work his way into the lineup, though.
Grade: INC
NEW YORK JETS
2023
Round 1 — No. 15
Will McDonald, DE
McDonald, who played at Waukesha North High School — just 2 hours from Green Bay — has been a far superior player to Van Ness, who the Packers selected two picks earlier.
McDonald had three sacks as a rookie, then had a breakout 2024 campaign with 10.5 sacks, which ranked 12th in the NFL.
McDonald hasn’t been as productive at the start of 2025, but appears to have an extremely bright future.
Grade: B
Round 5 — No. 170
The Jets traded this pick for sixth- and seventh rounders (picks 204 and 220).
Neither of those players — cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse and tight end ack Kuntz — are still with the team.
Grade: D