Packers GM further clarifies rumors about Aaron Rodgers trade calls and offers

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst provides some clarification to the ongoing rumors surrounding Aaron Rodgers.

Though the Green Bay Packers could potentially trade franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers, general manager Brian Gutekunst said the team has not engaged in trade talks up to this point.

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports “Packers [general manager] Brian Gutekunst said this week at the combine that he hasn’t gotten a single call about trading Rodgers.” He also added “The Packers have NOT engaged in traded talks with any teams about Rodgers.”

Rodgers is in his late 30s and has at least contemplated retirement over the last two offseasons. He has won back-to-back NFL MVPS, bringing his career total to four. While he is an unquestioned first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer, Rodgers has not quarterbacked the Packers to a Super Bowl berth in over a decade. He may want to play somewhere else before hanging up the spikes.

Whatever Rodgers decides, there seem to be plans in place for the Packers to react accordingly.

Aaron Rodgers rumors: Green Bay Packers have yet to receive any trade offer

There are three ways this goes. Rodgers returns to Green Bay, which seems to be the most likely outcome. He may request a trade out of town. He could decide to call it a career. No matter what Rodgers opts to do, the Packers are too well-run of an organization to not have plans in place for all three scenarios. The good news is none of these contingency plans have to be complicated.

If Rodgers wants to come back, then Green Bay must free up cap space, either through contract restructurings or outright releases, as well as kill it in the 2022 NFL Draft. Should Rodgers want out, it serves the Packers to be cooperative and work with Rodgers’ representation to figure out a few potential trade partners. And if he retires, the Packers will need to rebuild around Jordan Love.

Really what this comes down to if the rest of the NFL world waiting patiently on Rodgers’ decision. If he does want to be traded, then teams will reach out to Gutekunst and the rest of the Green Bay front office to see if they can strike a deal. Ultimately, it does not serve the other 31 franchises to check in on Rodgers’ availability when they do not know his status in the profession going forward.

If Rodgers becomes available, many teams will try their luck to put together their best trade offer.