Let’s see, what team in recent years added a 40-something year-old veteran quarterback and how did they do?

It’s been a tough three years for Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

They had to watch Tom Brady leave and win the Super Bowl with Tampa Bay. Thankfully that won’t repeat itself, but now they have to deal with another of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in their division after Green Bay dealt Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.

This won’t belabor the idea that the Patriots are now behind everyone else in the AFC East because Mac Jones can’t compare to Josh Allen, Rodgers, or Tua Tagovailoa. Things always have to play out and injuries can always change the game. Trying to predict football in April is foolish. For example, who would have thought the Eagles would be in the Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts would be an elite QB or the Giants would win a playoff game?

It’s simply an inexact science.

But here’s the immediate impact: the Patriots may be more tempted, or leaning toward when they pick at No. 14 – behind Green Bay but now just ahead of the Jets after the Rodgers deal instead of the other way around – to look hard at a corner. It certainly would seem logical.

There aren’t any real wow wide receivers that look like first half of the first round worthy. Now the draft is deep in tight ends, but with 11 picks, it certainly looks like the Patriots could wait until Day 2.

But who knows. The Patriots certainly need a left tackle they can plug in for the next five years – that’s what Isaiah Wynn was supposed to be – so that will be tempting too.

The Rodgers trade is interesting. One media member panned the deal on Fox Sports Radio the other night, bringing up Rodgers’ sub-par 2022 season and the fact that no one other than the Jets were trying hard to get him when Green Bay made it obvious they were going to part ways.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas said that Rodgers’ perceived down year – 12 interceptions – was due to a thumb injury but that he still played well and there are no concerns. These things can always backfire – see Russell Wilson in Denver.

And there’s the question whether Rodgers wants to play more than one year, something Douglas said he’d let Rodgers answer whenever he addresses the media.

“We’re excited to add a player of his character and ability,” Douglas said, adding that “Ultimately our goal from the beginning was to add Aaron to the team.”

We’ll see how it all shakes out. We’re not convinced the Dolphins are in great shape with Tagovailoa’s concussion history, etc. It cost them last year.

The Jets had just about everyhing last year except the QB – that position killed them vs. the Patriots, otherwise they would have been at least a nine or 10-win team. One thing is for sure, the Rodgers trade will spice things up even further in the off-season and Thursday’s draft. The NFL really needed it to be done before they announce the schedule, presumably next week, and tweek the national games.

One thing’s for sure. The Jets QB next season won’t be heard saying he was seeing ghosts out there.

Tom King may be reached at @Telegraph_TomK on twitter, or tking@nashuatelegraph.com