Everyone who’s anyone is chiming in on Aaron Rodgers’ future. He’s once again holding the Green Bay Packers in purgatory but this time, he’s assured them this process won’t drag out. Packers legendary safety LeRoy Butler appeared on the “All Things Covered” podcast with Patrick Peterson and Bryant McFadden and voiced his own thoughts on the matter when asked if he believes Rodgers will be back with the Packers.
“I would say no because they’re 45 million over the cap. And they drafted Jordan Love and he’ll be on the roster for three years now, to say we’re going to move on at some point. The only way they can make it work is if Aaron comes in and says ‘Listen, I’ll take a pay cut to try and win a Super Bowl.’
When McFadden interjected by saying he doesn’t see that happening Butler continued:
“Nor should he. You knew what you were getting into.”
The salary cap does pose as a big problem for Green Bay this offseason as they are second worst in that category ahead of only the New Orleans Saints. Rodgers will likely command a new deal if he is to stay which could loosen up money now but be really costly on the backend. There’s also the Davante Adams caveat that lingers.
Rodgers and Adams appear to be a package duo in the eyes of one another and Adams is an unrestricted free agent. Part of Rodgers waiting it out is to see what Green Bay ends up doing with Adams and to find out if they are able to sign him to a long term deal. If not, Rodgers and Adams could both be out the door. Adams wants top dollar and then some and he may get it somewhere but it’s hard to imagine Green Bay forking over his demands of an annual salary that reaches 30 million big ones. Butler’s point about the salary cap is absolutely valid.
Some suggest the salary cap doesn’t matter and there are always ways to work around it but in this case, Green Bay’s best chance at a work around would be to push off the issue into 2023 or 2024 and then be right back where they are at the present time. There is truly no scenario where all the key core players from this years team, thought to be a team of destiny, will all be returning to the Packers. The roster will take a hit at some positions and that needs to be accepted as fact.
Butler believes Rodgers will avoid it all by asking out and leaving the Packers. That, along with the Adams decision, will be the next big dominos to fall for the Packers as they navigate the offseason.
