The Green Bay Packers reportedly want at least two first-round picks for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Other than the Jets, which teams can meet that asking price?
Peter King suggested that Green Bay would want at least two firsts for Aaron Rodgers in his latest column. Of all the teams that could make such a deal work, King guessed that Woody Johnson and the New York Jets were the most likely to make it happen.
Nonetheless, New York is not without competition. If Rodgers is made available, other front offices will call Green Bay and try to make a deal.
Rodgers may be 39 years old, but his contract guarantees $60 million for next season if he plays. He also proved he still has something left to give towards the end of the 2023 season, and is just a year removed from back-to-back MVPs.
So, which teams (minus the Jets) make the most sense for Rodgers?
Aaron Rodgers rumors: New England Patriots
New England is still high on Mac Jones, their first-round pick out of Alabama, but he hasn’t panned out exactly how they expected. Much of that is on coaching and personnel decisions, rather than the Alabama product himself.
With that in mind, the Patriots could hit reset on Jones, sending him to the bench in favor of a veteran who has one or two years left to give before riding off into the sunset. A Tom Brady reunion is in play, but still seems unlikely given the complicated history and ending of a dynasty in New England. Could Rodgers be the play instead?
Bill Belichick is nearing the end of his coaching tenure, one way or another. There is pressure to prove he can win without Brady, so a team that would otherwise be wise to hold onto its draft assets could be willing to trade some of them for a proven, Super Bowl-caliber quarterback.
The optics of such a move wouldn’t be ideal right away, but the Patriots just brought Bill O’Brien back into the fold. A proven play-caller to pair with a Hall of Fame quarterback is a rare find.
Aaron Rodgers rumors: Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas makes a lot of sense as an Aaron Rodgers destination, unless Tom Brady beats him to it. There’s plenty of crossover between where Rodgers and Brady may end up, as they are both veteran quarterbacks looking for one last run. Rodgers is following Brady’s lead, in this case, as TB12 already left the team which drafted him for another Super Bowl run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
For Rodgers, this would be a monumental decision. The Packers are one of football’s iconic franchises and brands. He’s been the most recognizable player in Green Bay since Brett Favre left. Would he really forfeit all that for a chance to play for a Raiders team without much of an identity?
Yes, and there are a few reasons why. First, Rodgers would have plenty of control over the offense and front office decisions once acquired. He’d also get to play with a proven play-caller in Josh McDaniels, and with his former favorite target in wide receiver Davante Adams. Trading for Rodgers, and then somehow re-signing Josh Jacobs, would give the Raiders one of the best offenses in football.
Vegas is already short draft capital after trading for Adams last offseason. Getting rid of two more firsts (at least) is risky, but Mark Davis is desperate to win at Allegiant Stadium, where there’s often more opposing fans than those wearing silver and black.
Trading for Rodgers would fix all of that and more.
Aaron Rodgers rumors: New Orleans Saints
New Orleans is expected to receive some draft capital once Sean Payton decides on a new team — potentially the Denver Broncos or Arizona Cardinals. The Saints asking price was reportedly at least a first-round pick for the right to Payton.
The Saints could turn right around and use that selection, along with a few others, to acquire Aaron Rodgers, should they choose. New Orleans still has plenty of holes to fill, but they have an offense which features Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave, two prominent weapons Rodgers should be able to work with and make better.
The quarterback position stood in the way of New Orleans making a run to the playoffs in the weak NFC South division this season. It would also be in Rodgers best interest to stay in the NFC, should he get the option. The AFC is loaded with talented teams, and great passers. In the NFC South, Rodgers would get an easy path to the postseason and only a few contenders stopping him from another Super Bowl appearance.
The Saints have a capable defense, and should still have some draft capital remaining to make the offense a little better around Rodgers. Signing the likes of Odell Beckham, Jr., who went to LSU, could aid such a marriage, as well.