NFL notes: Aaron Rodgers gets his new deal: $134 million extension; Saints acquire Teddy Bridgewater from Jets

Aaron Rodgers is getting another big deal.

The two-time NFL MVP and Green Bay Packers agreed to terms Wednesday on a four-year extension that would keep Rodgers under contract through the 2023 season.

The four-year deal is worth $134 million, with more than $100 million in guaranteed money. Rodgers’ former teammate, NFL Network analyst James Jones, first reported the agreement.

Rodgers’ new annual average salary of $33.5 million per year would eclipse Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s five-year extension worth $30 million a year.

Rodgers turns 35 in December. He signed his previous extension, a five-year deal worth $110 million, before the 2013 season.

Neither Rodgers nor the Packers expressed concern through this preseason that they couldn’t get a new deal done.

“I talk with my agent daily, so I’m aware of conversations,” Rodgers said when training camp opened last month. “But I’m really not too worried about it like I said, there’s more than mutual interest on both sides.”

Rodgers is healthy again after being limited to seven games last year because of a right collarbone injury. Green Bay flopped without him.

Saints acquire Teddy Bridgewater from Jets

A person familiar with the situation says the New Orleans Saints have agreed to acquire veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the New York Jets for a draft pick.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been announced.

While record-setting quarterback Drew Brees is entrenched as New Orleans’ starter, the move signifies that Saints coach Sean Payton was not entirely comfortable with either veteran Tom Savage or second-year pro Taysom Hill serving as Brees’ backup.

The Saints have their sights set on Super Bowl contention after coming within one play of reaching the NFC title game last season. The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles demonstrated the importance of a solid backup quarterback in 2017, winning a championship after Nick Foles had to replace injured starter Carson Wentz.

Seahawks acquire backup quarterback Hundley

The Seattle Seahawks have acquired quarterback Brett Hundley from the Green Packers, a person familiar with the deal said Wednesday. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade hasn’t been announced by the teams. ESPN.com first reported the deal.

The trade was completed on the cusp of the conclusion of the preseason and gives the Seahawks a proven backup behind Russell Wilson. The Seahawks are reportedly sending a late-round draft pick to Green Bay.

Hundley stepped into a starting role last season for the Packers when Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone. Hundley started nine games and the Packers went 3-6. He threw for 1,836 yards and nine touchdowns, but also threw 12 interceptions.

His acquisition likely means the end of Austin Davis’ stint as Wilson’s backup in Seattle. Davis had been with the Seahawks since the start of the 2017 season.

In Green Bay, the deal means that DeShone Kizer has won the backup job behind Rodgers. The former second-round pick started 15 games for the winless Cleveland Browns last season as a rookie and was acquired by the Packers in the offseason.

Seahawks sign Lockett to contract extension

The Seattle Seahawks signed wide receiver Tyler Lockett to a three-year contract extension Wednesday, locking up a major contributor who could have been a free agent after the season.

A former All-Pro selection as a kick returner, Lockett’s rookie deal was set to expire after the 2018 season, but he opted for the security of staying in Seattle over seeing what was available on the open market.

“Everything that I need has been here,” Lockett said. “They traded picks to come and get me. They showed that they wanted me here.”

Lockett has appeared to be back at full speed after playing last year at less than 100 percent following a gruesome broken leg suffered late in the 2016 season. Lockett also played through a knee injury most of the 2017 season, but still appeared in all 16 games and had 45 receptions for 555 yards and two touchdowns.

Throughout his career, Lockett has been one of the top kick returners in the league. He was limited in returns last year because of the injuries, but has averaged nearly 26 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns over three seasons.

Lockett said his loyalty to Seattle was partly due to the Seahawks allowing him to be more than a returner.

“They’ve allowed me to grow as a person and they also allowed me to develop into a receiver that I’m continuing to be every single day. The fact they were willing to give me an extension because they see me in their future says a lot,” Lockett said.

Lockett was among a handful of key Seattle players whose contracts were set to expire after this season. Left tackle Duane Brown received an extension earlier this summer. Seattle still must make decisions on defensive end Frank Clark and linebacker K.J. Wright.

Etc.

Cleveland Browns linebacker Mychal Kendricks has been charged with using insider trading tips from an acquaintance to make about $1.2 million in illegal profits on four major trading deals, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.