Could Aaron Rodgers’ days with the Green Bay Packers be actually coming to an in depth?
According to at least one long-time Packers observer, that’s certainly the case.
New reporting from Bob McGinn holds that the Packers have all however moved on from Rodgers, and if the veteran quarterback is again in Green Bay subsequent yr, it might solely be because the backup to Jordan Love. That would possibly come as a shock, however hypothesis continues to mount concerning Rodgers’ future.
And with the quarterback about to embark on 4 days in a darkish room to decide about his future, now’s maybe the best time to consider what might occur when he emerges from the darkness.
Here are seven choices for Rodgers subsequent season, ranked.
7. Retirement/Spotify
There is at all times the choice that Rodgers decides to stroll away from the sport.
If, after just a few days in darkness, he chooses the retirement path, is it that onerous to consider that his subsequent cease can be in a podcast studio?
Rodgers’ weekly appearances on the Pat McAfee Show grew to become must-watch occasions within the soccer media area, and we’ve discovered over the previous few seasons that the quarterback has some fairly fascinating ideas on life usually. He additionally not too long ago made an look on an astrology podcast and talked about his personal signal, in addition to former teammate Davante Adams.
More on that later.
Still, if Rodgers might emerge from the darkness and decides to go away soccer behind, and turn into a podcaster like everybody else.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a troublesome staff to pin down as we enter the offseason. The departure of Tom Brady, and their troublesome wage cap place, makes them a main rebuild candidate. Given that it’s unlikely — not possible — that Rodgers desires to be a part of a rebuild, that may take the Buccaneers off the checklist.
However, they did make the playoffs final season, thanks partly to life within the NFC South. If the Buccaneers resolve to piece issues collectively for yet another run, Rodgers may very well be the reply to their quarterback wants.
Still, there are two potential roadblocks, and they’re massive ones. First, it’s arduous to consider that the Packers would commerce Rodgers to an NFC staff — final month ESPN’s Adam Schefter posited that he didn’t suppose there was “any way” Green Bay would commerce him inside the convention — and the Buccaneers would make numerous strikes to get in compliance with the cap, strikes which may make Tampa Bay a much less fascinating vacation spot in the long run.
5. Washington Commanders
The Commanders have a brand new offensive coordinator. On Friday afternoon, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that the group was finalizing a take care of Eric Bieniemy to turn into their subsequent assistant head coach/offensive coordinator.
Might Rodgers be the following quarterback Bieniemy will get to teach?
Again, there are just a few sticking factors. First, the concept the Packers would commerce Rodgers inside the NFC. Second, the plan getting into the offseason for Washington was to trip with second-year passer Sam Howell as their quarterback, given the failed Carson Wentz experiment.
But that is Rodgers we’re speaking about. Putting these plans on maintain, even for a season, is perhaps interesting to Washington.
The Commanders have expertise on each side of the ball. What was lacking was consistency on the quarterback place. Rodgers definitely brings that to the desk.
4. Tennessee Titans
It is time to go away the NFC behind, and begin taking a look at choices within the AFC.
The first possibility would possibly simply be the Tennessee Titans.
Tennessee does have an out below the phrases of present quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s contract. The Titans might save $27 million in cap area if Tannehill is waived, or traded, after June 1st. While Tennessee drafted Malik Willis final season, they turned to Joshua Dobbs for his or her closing recreation of the common season, a must-win recreation towards the Jacksonville Jaguars in the event that they wished to make the playoffs.
Beyond the potential want at quarterback in Tennessee, a match between Rodgers and the Titans is smart in some NFL circles. Recent reporting from The Athletic cites two NFL executives who level to the Titans as a vacation spot for Rodgers, calling Tennessee “more his pace.”
And in the event you take a step again and take a look at the remainder of the AFC South, whereas the Jaguars look aggressive heading into 2023, each the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans will probably be beginning rookie quarterbacks in some unspecified time in the future throughout 2023, if not immediately in Week 1. There is perhaps a window for the Titans to make a fast turnaround within the division that’s not believable with another potential AFC touchdown spots.
3. New York Jets
Speaking of which.
When we carried out this train for Derek Carr, the New York Jets have been listed as the highest touchdown spot for his companies.
Why are they solely third for Rodgers?
Well, as a result of there are two higher choices for him, a minimum of from the place I sit.
But nonetheless, the Jets are an intriguing touchdown spot for any quarterback this offseason. They have been competent quarterback play away from a playoff spot — and possibly much more — final season, and the Jets have a ton of younger expertise on the roster. They have Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner on one facet of the sphere, and Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson on the opposite.
And let’s not overlook that Breece Hall was within the combine for that award himself earlier than his damage on the finish of October.
There can also be the Nathaniel Hackett issue, given the earlier relationship between the 2 throughout their time in Green Bay. Although, that didn’t precisely work for the Denver Broncos final offseason.
Would Rodgers need to head to the Big Apple? Would he need to play within the AFC East? Would he actually observe the identical path as his predecessor in Green Bay and play for the Jets after leaving the Packers?
Those are more durable inquiries to reply, they usually open the door for 2 different choices.
2. Green Bay Packers
I perceive, the framing of this piece is that the Packers are prepared to maneuver on from Rodgers, and McGinn’s reporting holds that if he comes again to Green Bay it might be as a backup to Love. All of that makes the concept of Rodgers returning to Green Bay appear far-fetched.
But the explanation why I feel a return to Green Bay is believable is that this. During the NFL season I make a weekly radio look on Wisconsin airwaves, on the Bill Michaels Show, and every Wednesday we might speak about Rodgers, the Packers, and all issues NFL. And because the season was winding down, and Green Bay was placing themselves again within the playoff combine, one thing began to click on for the Packers, and in my thoughts as properly.
Rodgers seemed like he was having enjoyable once more.
And I bear in mind telling Bill just a few occasions that even when they ended up falling wanting the playoffs, Rodgers’ newfound chemistry with the younger receivers in Green Bay, together with Christian Watson, would possibly repay in one other approach. Not with a playoff berth, however with giving Rodgers a purpose to come back again for yet another yr. He was having enjoyable once more, and getting on the identical web page with the younger Packers receivers, and he now had proof of idea in entrance of him, for the way it might all work in Green Bay.
How he might win one other title for the Packers, surpassing Favre and matching Bart Starr.
I’m sticking to that idea for a short while longer.
1. Las Vegas Raiders
However, chemistry exists elsewhere for Rodgers, in Las Vegas with former teammate Davante Adams.
The Raiders do look like the best touchdown spot, as a result of confronted with the prospects of enjoying Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs twice a season, in addition to the Los Angeles Chargers and Justin Herbert, together with the Broncos and Sean Payton/Russell Wilson, a rookie that the Raiders might draft within the first spherical would possibly maintain Las Vegas chasing these three groups for the close to future.
Rodgers and Adams reunited, nonetheless, makes it a a lot completely different dialogue.
Still, is that this the trail Josh McDaniels prefers? We noticed how his time in Denver noticed Jay Cutler depart city, and now the primary yr of his Vegas residency ends with Carr leaving Sin City. Does McDaniels need to attempt it once more with a 3rd veteran, or is he searching for the rookie to draft and develop?