It seems like a new one pops up every day. In conversations, from analysts, on social media, on sports blogs sites. Scenario after scenario of Aaron Rodgers being traded from the Green Bay Packers.
With training camp just a few weeks away, it almost appears that the Rodgers drama has reached desperation level. Yes, there is still a chance he could get traded. But at this stage of the game, why would the Packers or another team do that? It would be almost impossible to learn a new playbook or completely change an offense right now.
It’s pretty clear that Rodgers isn’t thrilled, but that doesn’t mean things can’t change. The Packers are working on extensions for players like Davante Adams and Jaire Alexander. They are in constant contact with him. Rodgers could still not show up or opt-out, but it would cost him more than the millions of dollars he’d lose. His reputation and future are also on the line. For a man who didn’t like what Brett Favre did, he is starting to walk down the same path.
But the constant trade proposals being sent out there for Rodgers are almost insulting. The Denver Broncos come up over and over. Rodgers would probably be a good fit there, but he has a better chance of winning another Super Bowl and MVP in Green Bay. The team is not going to trade one of the league’s best quarterbacks for peanuts.
Latest Viral Proposal
I have seen many trade proposals since the Rodgers news came out, but this week’s tweet takes the cake from Bleacher Report Gridiron.
First of all, the Packers don’t need another quarterback. It seems like the key piece here is Drew Lock, along with two first-round picks and K.J. Hamler. Why would the Packers want another quarterback? They drafted Jordan Love for a reason. Green Bay would give him a chance to prove what he’s got instead of throwing him into a competition with Lock.
They also have Blake Bortles and Kurt Benkert. There isn’t a need for another younger quarterback to throw into the mix. You could argue the merits of Lock over Bortles and Benkert, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a mess to have them all on the depth chart. Bortles is a solid veteran backup, and Benkert is already becoming a team and fan favorite in his short time with the green and gold. He has a good chance to make the practice squad or even beat out Bortles. He’s an unproven young talent who could break out at camp.
I have also seen trades that would include Teddy Bridgewater. Again, why? That would make less sense than Drew Lock. Bridgewater is a decent quarterback, but why throw him into Green Bay’s current situation? The Packers would go with a young QB they are already developing.
I could see if they threw in a few different players and maybe another draft pick, but to give up Rodgers for a QB, WR, and two picks would be extremely lopsided.
Also, can we talk about the hilarious notion of sending Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for Henry Ruggs III and a first-rounder? I don’t think the team is anywhere close to trying to trade Adams when they just started contract talks. I don’t know how the Packers are going to afford it, but it seems like something they want to get done.
Rodgers and Denver
And if Denver is serious about Rodgers, they would need to offer a lot for him. Sure, Hamler is nice, but the Packers would probably want players like Jerry Jeudy, Patrick Surtain II, Von Miller, or Noah Fant. Two draft picks are nice, but two first-round picks aren’t enough. You would need to throw in a second or third and possibly a conditional one as well.
Everyone keeps talking about how good the Broncos’ offense would be with Rodgers. But if Denver would trade with Green Bay, their offense wouldn’t be as good anymore. People like Shannon Sharpe can claim the Broncos are Super Bowl contenders with Rodgers, but it doesn’t mean their offensive line would do as well as Green Bay’s. And do folks really want to claim that Melvin Gordon III and Javonte Williams are a better running back duo than Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon? No one could make that logical stretch.
If you want to throw out trades like Baker Mayfield with OBJ and a few picks, sure, that’s fine. It might work if the NFL didn’t have a salary cap. Would OBJ be playing for free? I get that it’s fun to throw out trade proposals. But at this stage of the game, it’s highly unlikely a team could offer something so good that the Packers would accept. And yet, who honestly saw the Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff swap coming? Stranger trades have happened in the NFL. If it does happen, you just have to hope Green Bay is smart to get a gigantic return.
Thank goodness Training Camp is almost here.
