Aaron Rodgers is a first ballot Hall of Famer and a Packers legend. The number 12 jersey will most likely be retired.

It was never going to last forever and it seems now is a good time for both parties to move on. From his offseason antics to a difficult 2022 campaign, Rodgers’ future has been in doubt for some time. Here is why the Packers MUST move on from Aaron Rodgers.

Ripping Off The Band Aid

Rodgers’ stats speak for themselves. 10 Pro Bowls, 4 MVP awards and a Super Bowl. 59,055 career passing yards and 475 passing touchdowns.

With only five losing seasons in the 15 he has spent as the starting quarterback and only three seasons where he has played ten games or more and had less than 4,000 passing yards, the transition from Brett Favre to Rodgers could not have gone any smoother.

However, this season has been tough. Rodgers flirted with the idea of leaving the franchise until he was offered a new $150 million deal in March 2022.

His performances on the field were below par for someone who had won back-to-back MVP awards.  It was his first season since the 2010 campaign that he threw for double digit interceptions, and just the third time in his career.

At some point in every athlete’s career, there comes a time where your body starts to fail you. At the age of 39, it is safe to say Rodgers has reached father time in his career. Not every quarterback can do what Tom Brady did and play into their 40’s and do so at an elite level.

The Packers had no problem trading away Brett Favre and it feels that now is the time for the Green Bay front office to look towards the future, once Rodgers is back from his darkness retreat.

Waiting In The Wings

Jordan Love was drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, much to the shock of the Packers fanbase.

Love has had three years to sit behind Rodgers. At some point you need to see what he has got. Otherwise, you might as well trade him away.

Love got his chance on the field in 2022 and looked comfortable during the 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, who eventually won the NFC.

Love may have only attempted nine passes but threw for 113 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. He looked comfortable in the system and with a full offseason with starter reps, he would go into the 2023 season with plenty of confidence.

Packers general manager Brian Gutenkurst spoke of the “offseason additions” that Love will need to consider. Running back Aaron Jones spoke of Love’s readiness. NFL reporter Bob McGinn gave his take on the Love situation. He said: “They love Jordan Love. They think he is the second coming now. They’ve seen enough in practice for three years, that they believe he is Rodgers 2.0. That’s where this organization is coming from right now.”

Love showed his potential in college with Utah State, throwing for 60 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in three seasons. It feels that it is now Love’s time and they will hope he is the future. If this was not to work out, then there are plenty of draft picks or free agency pickups that could fix the QB position. Either way, Rodgers needs to be moved on for the good of everyone involved.

The time has come.

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The Washington Football Team showed lots of potential last year as they snuck into the playoffs. WFT had an early postseason exit against the Buccaneers, but they gave the defending Super Bowl champions an intense fight in the 23-31 loss. Ron Rivera’s squad entered the offseason with a very talented defense, an elite wide receiver (Terry McLaurin), but a huge question mark at the quarterback position. 

It would seem likely that the WFT would add a talented player at the most vital position (QB) amid a team that’s well built around the weak QB spot. Yet, the WFT opted not to trade for a QB or draft one early on. Since the 2020 NFC East champions didn’t draft a QB, they’re left with Ryan Fitzpatrick competing against Taylor Heinicke for the starting gig. Fitzmagic may be serviceable, but the WFT has a unique opportunity to still obtain a very talented QB on a team that’s ready to compete “in the playoffs”. 

The quarterback that Washington should target: Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers is a world class athlete who seems firm about leaving Green Bay. I don’t believe Rodgers will cave in to this situation, nor will the Pack hold Rodgers hostage after drafting a QB in the first round last season. I believe a situation like this will take lots of time given the magnitude of the player and the returning compensation on the table, but eventually it will take place. And I believe the WFT would be a good landing spot. To be fair, I don’t believe it’s the most logical landing spot – but it would be the most exciting from my perspective. 

Reason number one: Rodgers would get to play in the NFC East

Aaron Rodgers has owned the NFC North for quite some time, but he could hold a bigger throne in the NFC – which is the NFC East. The NFC East was historically bad in 2020. If he moved to the nation’s capital, he would be on the defending NFC East squad looking down (7-9 in 2020). The division improved as expected, but the Cowboys and Eagles secondary is still weak, or less experienced heading into 2021. Outside of porous secondaries in the NFC East, the Eagles and Giants are slowly rebuilding as a whole.

If Rodgers was traded to the Raiders or Broncos in the AFC West, he would play in a much more competitive division, to say the least. If Rodgers heads to the NFC East, the reigning MVP would get a much softer schedule than one in the AFC West or even NFC North. 

Rodgers would also get to play the Packers this upcoming season, as Washington faces Green Bay.

Reason number two: Rodgers gets to play with Curtis Samuel and Terry McLaurin

The most thrilling part of seeing Rodgers in a Washington uniform lies with the weapons offered. Rodgers would get to have Percey Harvin 2.0 in WR/RB Curtis Samuel. If Rodgers had an ultimate slot WR that could make plays in open space, we would really witness Rodgers’s passer rating skyrocket. Yes, Curtis Samuel is the jack of all trades and he can stretch the field with Aaron, but WFT also holds an elite number WR1 in Terry McLaurin. McLaurin would truly give Davante Adams a run for his money in elite showcases if he was gifted a QB like Rodgers.

McLaurin with Rodgers is far more fascinating than Jerry Jeudy/Courtland Sutton with Rodgers, or Henry Ruggs with Rodgers. All in all, Rodgers would get another elite WR1, along with a talented WR2 that he’s been long craving for.

Reason number three: WFT has an elite pass rush

If Rodgers goes to Washington, they will be an instant playoff team, undoubtedly. Yet, Rodgers is solely focused day in and day out on the ultimate prize: winning a Lombardi trophy. In order to win the Super Bowl, they will likely have to play the Buccaneers or Saints in the NFC/then most likely the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. 

In order to beat the Chiefs or the Bucs/Saints, WFT will have to do what only has ever worked: get to the QB without blitzing. The WFT can get to the likes of Pat Mahomes with their front seven and make the QB’s life miserable. Chase Young and Montez Sweat are arguably the top edge rushing combination in the NFL. They both run 40 times like RBs but also carry 6’6 260 frames. To sum it up, WFT holds a scary pass-rushing unit that fuels their defense, and in this day in age, we all know all too well that defense wins championships.

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By: Jordan Anders

Reports have come out over the last couple of days on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his strained relationship with the Packers organization. It was reported he does not wish to come back under general manager Brian Gutekunst. On the flip side, Gutekunst told ESPN they are committed to Rodgers in 2021. Although the Packers organization says they won’t be trading him, they don’t have a solid case and that started with drafting quarterback Jordan Love in the first round last year. With trade rumors on full blast, the Denver Broncos are top of the list for new destinations for Aaron Rodgers.

The 2020 NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers had an outstanding offensive season. Rodgers had 48 touchdowns and 5 interceptions with 4,299 passing yards last season. Rodgers took the Packers to the NFC Championship last season but fell short to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In other words, Aaron Rodgers is a very talented and experienced quarterback, something the Denver Broncos need if they plan on making a Super Bowl appearance soon. Denver’s starting quarterback Drew Lock, which they drafted in 2018, is still new and learning the game. What would be so bad to bring in a skilled veteran into the Broncos explosive offense?

If Aaron Rodgers wants more weapons, the Broncos got a stacked roaster. Starting with pro bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton, looking to make a huge comeback this season after missing all last season to an injury. Then there’s Tim Patrick who was targeted 79 times last season with zero drops. But we can’t forget about Jerry Jeudy, a sophomore this season with one of the best route running in the league. For running backs, there’s Melvin Gordon who rushed for nearly 1000 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Broncos also picked up a running back in the draft, Javonte Williams. Tight end Noah Fant is also looking to make a huge jump this next season, with that, Rodgers has the weapons he’s been asking for. After the NFL draft has come to a conclusion, the Broncos have one of the most underrated offenses.

Not only will Aaron Rodgers get the weapons he needs to score the points, but he’ll also need a pretty good defensive team to ensure the wins. Broncos will no doubt have one of the highest-ranked defenses coming into this next season. Pro bowlers Von Miller, Justin Simmons, and Bradley Chubb are just some of the names on this defensive. Many are comparing this secondary to the 2015 No Fly Zone, which was the best secondary in NFL History. If Aaron Rodgers can take care of business on offense then Von Miller will take care of things on defense.

The Denver Broncos would be best fit for Aaron Rodgers if he were to get traded. The Denver Broncos are a complete team that is very able to make it back to the Super Bowl. However, with the quarterback position still with a question mark, the team is not 100%. Aaron Rodgers could feel that role and take the team all the way, while Drew Lock gets experience under a veteran and takes over when and if Rodgers decides to retire. It’s truly a win-win situation.

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