It’s time.
It’s time for the Aaron Rodgers trade that many of us thought might never need to happen.
That is the opinion of a growing chorus of proud Green Bay fans – mine included – that know they’ve been blessed with an unrivalled run of quarterback stability, now spanning 30 years. Brett Favre straight into Aaron.
But all good things must come to an end and Rodgers returning to Titletown next season is a movie nobody needs to see, nor is in any party’s best interests.
Favre was traded eventually. Other legends like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning didn’t end up as one-team wonders, either. This is the NFL; it happens.
The drop off of Rodgers’ on-field play this season was notable, he was coming off back-to-back MVP seasons to be fair. That’s a hard level to sustain. Trading away star wide receiver Davante Adams just under a year ago didn’t help the Packers QB; it provides some reasonable context to his far more mediocre campaign, among other things.
Aaron Rodgers is no longer the player he was, nor did he live up to his hefty price tag last season, but he does still have more to give. The reality is there’s one – maybe two – serviceable seasons left and if he wants to get back to the summit 14 years after his only visit to the Super Bowl, a win against Pittsburgh, his best chance is elsewhere. The only hope of Rodgers hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as a Packer next season is him agreeing to a seismic contractual adjustment, which just no longer seems feasible.
The bottom line is that the Packers-Rodgers partnership has reached a point of no return.
There is, of course, another conclusion. The veteran may decide he’s done; ready to ride off into the sunset. As a 39-year-old man that these days seems more interested in non-football conspiracies than being a leader in the locker room, retirement is a real possibility and something he’s confirmed he’s still weighing up. His final trip up the tunnel of Lambeau Field on the 9th of January, after a tough and costly loss to the Lions, was telling.
“All the trade stuff is conjecture until I decide what I want to do moving forward for myself,” Rodgers declared on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday.
But assuming Rodgers, one of the most accomplished QBs in NFL history, wants to play into his 40s, there will be trade interest. Momentum and buzz is building through the league’s key news breakers that Green Bay is closer than its ever been to fielding phone calls from other franchises and doing the unthinkable.
A trade for the Packers is a chance to cash in, recharge, replenish and build assets to put its man in waiting, Jordan Love, in a position to fill the incredibly large shoes that are quarterbacking the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted as a raw prospect three seasons ago and may well prove he’s ready to blossom on a post-Rodgers roster. Either way, it’s time to find out once and for all.
It’s time for Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst to step up into the pocket and scan the field.
Where could Aaron Rodgers realistically be traded?
It’s been reported that Green Bay will only deal Rodgers to its opposite conference, somewhere in the AFC. For right or for wrong, that makes the process of elimination a bit simpler.
The other major factor of consideration is that Rodgers can only end up on a team that thinks its ready to compete for a Super Bowl.
New York Jets
The Jets are the literal definition of what a team after an Aaron Rodgers type looks like. Robert Saleh’s group epitomised the expression ‘a quarterback away’ last season; the franchise’s Playoff hopes slipped away one Zach Wilson snap at a time down the stretch.
New York’s offensive line can only get healthier, there are legit weapons for the 39-year-old quarterback to lean on and the defence is both oozing talent and well coached.
The Jets’ patience is undeniably running out, from multiple angles. Owner Woody Johnson – of Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune – is now 75 years old, plus this fan base have endured one of US sport’s longest postseason droughts. The Jets haven’t made the Playoffs for 11 years; it’s only the Sacramento Kings with a longer active absence across the country’s major codes (16 seasons and counting).
And then there’s symmetry just too perfect to ignore: Aaron Rodgers would follow the footsteps of his Packers predecessor Brett Favre, also traded to East Rutherford in his twilight years. And to take that even a step further, Green Bay’s former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has just been announced as New York’s new OC. Hackett, notoriously close with Rodgers, departed Green Bay a year ago after being an integral part of the quarterback’s two consecutive MVP seasons.
The Jets have confirmed they’re on the look for a veteran QB; the whole thing just makes too much sense.
Las Vegas Raiders
Just like the Raiders are a potential fit for Tom Brady, Rodgers is another veteran quarterback that could line up with Las Vegas. There’s an opening; Derek Carr is moving on. Raiders fans, like the Jets, are tired of mediocrity.
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams have made some incredible footballing magic over recent seasons; one of the most mind-melding QB-WR partnerships witnessed in some time. Adams was traded a year ago the both of them, individually, probably regretted being separated at numerous moments through 2022.
Carolina Panthers
Now while it’s been reported and mentioned that Green Bay won’t send Rodgers to an NFC Conference rival, this scenario has legs.
It’s been a revolving door at quarterback for Carolina since Cam Newton busted his shoulder in 2019, just after the franchise was purchased by hedge fund billionaire David Tepper. He’s got cash to splash and must be ready for his team to make larger waves too; the team has an exciting and emerging defence, weapons on offence, an improving offensive line and a brand new head coach in Frank Reich – formerly of the Indianapolis Colts.
New England Patriots
The three above make far more sense, but the Pats have remained unsettled at quarterback since the departure of Tom Brady a few seasons back.
Seeing Bill Belichick join forces with a player of Rodgers’ IQ would be fascinating, but New England’s in a similar predicament to Green Bay; there’s just not a feasible amount of fire power on offence.
San Fransisco 49ers
Given Rodgers is a California native and the 49ers were the ‘meant to be’ scenario when he nominated for the Draft in 2005 – San Fran had the first overall pick but used it on Alex Smith instead – this chatter just won’t die down.
This team has two young guys they can move forward with, Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, but theoretically aren’t married to either of them at this exact point in time.
Baltimore Ravens
A true wildcard and left-field option, the Ravens may well be looking after a QB quite soon if they can’t figure something out with Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore prides itself on a culture of contending every year and its defence is scary enough to cause problems, should Rodgers be tasked with keeping things afloat on the other side of the ball.
Washington
Given Rodgers’ political agendas, maybe a move to the capital interests him.
There are genuine game-breakers on both sides of the ball for the Commanders. But again, Washington contend in the NFC. And there’s a massive ownership cloud hanging over this team’s head; something that should be figured out before committing an exorbitant amount of cash to a 40-something player that still has multiple years left on his deal.
Is there really enough space in Washington for Dan Snyder and Aaron Rodgers’ egos to coexist? No. Something would have to give before this thing could work.
What’s it going to cost to trade for Aaron Rodgers?
It’s being speculated that at minimum it’s one first-round Draft pick. But it’s probably more.
Logic suggests it’s somewhere between one and two first-rounders, with perhaps a conditional pick; most likely one and other stuff.
…
Strap in, because this may well turn into a complete circus this off season.
