(Image by: Matt DiDomenico)
Written By: Matt Di Domenico
Twitter: @didomenicomatt5
The NFL world had an eruption hours before the start of the 2021 NFL Draft when information was leaked out that starting Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants out of Green Bay. Rodgers has been with the Packers since 2005 when the organization took him in the first round of that year's draft at the 24th overall selection. We all know how the story played out from there. Rodgers waited for three years until he got his opportunity to replace Brett Favre in 2008.
Fast forward to the present day, Rodgers has one Super Bowl title and three MVP awards written on his resume. The same as his predecessor, Brett Favre. Similar to Favre, Rodgers now has his own first round quarterback sitting behind him looking to take over. That quarterback prospect is Jordan Love, who the Green Bay Packers selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. As expected, Rodgers was not a fan of the pick and was not informed by the Packers about the selection before it was announced. Rodgers now has stated his frustration to the Packers organization, and it seems as if the two sides will be going separate ways very soon. Rodgers wants to control the narrative of how his football career ends in Green Bay, instead of when the Packers get to dismiss him of his services.
Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has stated that they are not trading Aaron Rodgers. We do not know to what extent Rodgers wants out of Green Bay but for now, trade scenarios are going to be created. The Packers will trade Rodgers if their relationship cannot be fixed, and the Packers receive a trade deal that they simply cannot resist. Below are five realistic trade scenarios that Brian Gutekunst should be asking/searching for.
Trade #1:
GB Receives: DEN Receives:
Patrick Surtain II Aaron Rodgers
2022 1st Round Pick
2022 2nd Round Pick
2023 1st Round Pick
2023 6th Round Pick
2024 1st Round Pick
2024 3rd Round PickIn this deal with the Denver Broncos, the Green Bay Packers would be getting a bundle of draft capital. On top of the picks, the Packers would also be adding a top cornerback prospect in Patrick Surtain II. Yes, the Packers did load up with two cornerback selections in the 2021 NFL Draft but the pairing of Surtain II with Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Shemar Jean-Charles would be a very young group that could be dangerous for opposing teams to face. You may wonder why not Bradley Chubb instead of Patrick Surtain II? The Packers already have Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary on the roster and the Packers secondary is in a much greater need of an upgrade. Surtain II would also be coming in on a fresh rookie contract where Chubb only has two years left on his contract.
For the Denver Broncos, this is a very risky trade. The Broncos are simply sending away their future in a deal of three future 1st round draft picks in addition to two other early round picks in 2022 and 2024. The Broncos do have an offense in place for Aaron Rodgers with Jerry Juedy, Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, and Melvin Gordon. The question is if this current Broncos roster is good enough to take down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. Rodgers of course makes the entire team better but competing against the Chiefs and the Chargers will not be an easy task.
Trade #2:
GB Receives: MIA Receives:
Tua Tagovailoa Aaron Rodgers
2022 1st Round Pick (SF)
2022 3rd Round Pick
2022 4th Round Pick (PIT)
2023 1st Round Pick (SF)
2023 2nd Round Pick
2024 4th Round Pick This would be an intriguing deal for the Green Bay Packers to make. The Packers would be getting a huge draft haul here in this trade. This trade also presents a challenge of a QB competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love. The Packers would be able to see which quarterback they like the best with the possibility of trading one of them for more draft capital. However, this trade would look as if the Packers do not truly believe in Love just yet.
For the Miami Dolphins, they would be putting themselves in a position to compete for the AFC East crown and for a possible Super Bowl appearance. Teaming up Aaron Rodgers with a good offensive line, a very good defense, and a crowd of weapons with the likes of DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki, and Will Fuller V will allow the Dolphins to take that next step. On the downside, the Dolphins would be throwing away the possibility of Tua Tagovailoa developing into that franchise QB that they were looking for and had in their lap. This trade is also a massive bundle of draft capital that Miami moved around to get. This would not be a horrible deal for Miami to make because they would still have all three of their 1st round selections in the next three drafts.
Trade 3:
GB Receives: CLE Receives:
Baker Mayfield Aaron Rodgers
Greg Newsome II
2022 1st Round Pick
2022 4th Round Pick (DET)
2023 3rd Round Pick
2024 1st Round Pick
2024 4th Round PickLooking at this trade from the Green Bay Packers' point of view, it would be very intriguing but risky at the same time. The first intriguing part of this deal is receiving a talented cornerback prospect in Greg Newsome II to pair up with Jaire Alexander and a very young Packers secondary that has good talent. The Packers would also be getting a talented young quarterback in Baker Mayfield that was able to lead the Cleveland Browns to their first playoff win since 1994. Mayfield is an up and down player that has been able to make splash plays for the Browns over the past three seasons. On top of Newsome II and Mayfield, the Packers would be getting two future 1st round picks in addition to a 3rd round pick and two future 4th round picks. The question with this deal would be of course Jordan Love. The Packers could let Love sit behind Mayfield and learn. Then when the time comes the Packers can do two things. They can either trade Love if Mayfield has played well or has shown enough promise to earn a new contract. Or the Packers can move on from Mayfield and let Love take over.
If this trade deal was made, the Cleveland Browns would be in Super Bowl contention right away. The Browns have a very talented roster that is loaded on both sides of the football. The Browns have arguably the best offensive line in the NFL. In addition, the Browns have Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and Austin Hooper. With a talented young defense lead by Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, this Browns team would be tough to beat. Adding Rodgers would allow Kevin Stefanski to be more creative and simply open up the playbook to more opportunities. Baker Mayfield is a good solid developing quarterback, but Aaron Rodgers is very experienced and will put the Browns in better situations to succeed. The risk for the Browns is of course losing two talented players and future draft capital that could be very critical if something happened to Rodgers.
Trade 4:
GB Receives: LV Receives:
Derek Carr Aaron Rodgers
2022 1st Round Pick
2022 2nd Round Pick
2022 5th Round Pick (NE)
2023 1st Round Pick
2023 3rd Round Pick
2024 2nd Round Pick
2024 5th Round Pick
A trade that will allow the Green Bay Packers to reunite Davante Adams with his former college quarterback Derek Carr. Las Vegas is one of the reported trade destinations that Aaron Rodgers supposedly listed. The Packers would receive Carr who could start in the 2021 season if the Packers still do not think Jordon Love is ready to take over. The Packers could easily cut ties with Carr in 2022 without a dead cap hit or allow him to play out his contract and become an unrestricted free agent in the 2023 offseason. The Packers would also take in a draft load of two future 1st, 2nd, and 5th round picks in addition with a future 3rd round pick.
The Las Vegas Raiders would be gaining Aaron Rodgers who could turn this average 8-8 Raiders team into a possible playoff team. There are some decent weapons in place on the Raiders roster to help Rodgers out that include Josh Jacobs, Henry Ruggs III, John Brown, Hunter Renfrow, and Darren Waller. Jon Gruden passed on Rodgers in the 2005 draft with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and I am sure he regrets that decision to this day. Current Raiders GM Mike Mayock was an analysis in 2005 with NFL Network who prediction that Rodgers would slide to the Packers at pick #24 in his final mock draft. The Raiders are finally going to have fans cheering in their new stadium and having the 2020 NFL MVP on their roster surely is going to fill those seats. Mark Davis surely will want Mayock to make a move to get Rodgers, but the price of all the picks and Derek Carr may be too much for the Raiders to offer.
Trade 5:
GB Receives WAS Receives:
2022 1st Round Pick Aaron Rodgers
2022 2nd Round Pick
2022 4th Round Pick
2023 1st Round Pick
2023 3rd Round Pick
2023 7th Round Pick
2024 1st Round Pick
2024 2nd Round Pick
2024 5th Round PickHere is a trade deal where the Green Bay Packers would be receiving a massive draft haul from the Washington Football Team. The Packers would be adding three 1st round selections for the next three drafts. Making this trade would also give the Packers two future 2nd round picks, a 3rd round pick, and three late round picks. The Packers would start Jordan Love right away and have major draft capital to build a team around him.
Aaron Rodgers would be on his way to Washington if this trade was made. This is the least likely trade to happen, but Rodgers would be teaming up with one of the best up and coming defenses in the NFL. Rodgers would also have a good set of weapons to utilize that includes Terry McLaurin, Antonio Gibson, Curtis Samuel, and Logan Thomas. Gaining Aaron Rodgers would make Washington a serious threat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC. Rodgers would finally have a defense, but this cost seems way too much for Washington to offer. Owner Dan Snyder is trying to rebrand this Washington Football Team with a new name. Gaining Rodgers on his football team would be super beneficial in having for the rebranding process.
Overview:
The Green Bay Packers could make any of these trade deals happen but the idea of trading a future hall of fame quarterback who has done so much for your franchise is mind boggling. If there is no common ground set with Aaron Rodgers, it will be very hard for Brian Gutekunst and the rest of the Packers' front office to decide on a certain trade deal. Time will tell but a Rodgers trade will most likely happen post June 1st when the cap charge hit would be at a much lesser amount. If the Packers do not trade Rodgers, then a possible hold out into the 2021 season could be evident. The clock is ticking, and it will be very interesting to see how this situation unfolds.