Are Aaron Rodgers’ days with the Inexperienced Bay Packers actually coming to an finish?
In keeping with one long-time observer of the Packers, that is precisely what it’s.
New reporting from Bob McGinn maintains that the Packers have nearly walked away from Rodgers, and if the veteran quarterback returns to Inexperienced Bay subsequent 12 months, it should solely be a backup for Jordan Love. It might come as a shock, however hypothesis about Rodgers’ future continues to mount.
And with the quarterback set to spend 4 days in a darkish room to determine his future, now might be the right time to consider what might occur when he comes out of the darkish.
Listed here are seven choices for Rodgers for subsequent season, ranked.
7. Retirement/Spotify
There’s all the time the choice that Rodgers decides to go away the sport.
If she chooses to retire after a number of days at nighttime, is it so arduous to consider that the subsequent cease will likely be a podcast studio?
Rodgers’ weekly appearances at The The Pat McAfee Program have grow to be must-have occasions within the soccer media house, and over the previous few seasons, we have discovered that the playmaker has some fairly fascinating ideas about life on the whole. He additionally just lately appeared on an astrology podcast and spoke about his personal signal in addition to former teammate Davante Adams.
Extra on that later.
Nonetheless, if Rodgers might have stepped out of the darkish and determined to go away soccer behind and grow to be a podcaster like everybody else.
6. Tampa Bay Corsairs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a tough workforce to pin down as we enter the low season. The departure of Tom Brady and their tight wage cap make them a primary candidate for rebuilding. On condition that it is unlikely – extremely unlikely – that Rodgers would wish to be a part of the rebuild, it will take the Buccaneers off the roster.
Nonetheless, they managed to make the playoffs final season, thanks partially to residing within the NFC South. If the Buccaneers determine to place all of it collectively for another run, Rodgers would be the reply to their quarterback wants.
Nonetheless, there are two potential obstacles, and a giant one. First, it is arduous to consider the Packers would commerce Rodgers for an NFC workforce – final month ESPN Adam Schefter said that he would not suppose “in any manner” Inexperienced Bay would commerce him as a part of the convention – and the Buccaneers would make lots of strikes to adjust to the quota, strikes that might make Tampa Bay a much less fascinating vacation spot for finish.
5. Commanders from Washington
The commanders have a brand new offensive coordinator. On Friday afternoon, Ian Rapoport with NFL Community reported that the group is finalizing a cope with Erik Bieniemy to grow to be their subsequent assistant head coach/offensive coordinator.
Will Rodgers be the subsequent quarterback coached by Bieniemy?
Once more, there are a number of anchor factors. First, the concept the Packers would commerce Rodgers beneath the NFC. Second, the plan to enter the low season for Washington was to trip with sophomore Sam Howell as quarterback given Carson Wentz’s failed experiment.
However we’re speaking about Rodgers. Holding these plans, even for one season, could also be enticing to Washington.
Commanders have expertise on each side of the ball. There was no consistency within the quarterback place. Rodgers actually brings it to the desk.
4. Tennessee Titans
It is time to go away NFC behind and begin in search of choices in AFC.
The primary possibility would possibly simply be the Tennessee Titans.
Tennessee is out beneath the phrases of present quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s contract. The Titans might save $27 million in capitalization if Tannehill have been waived or bought after June 1. Whereas Tennessee drafted Malik Willis final season, they turned to Joshua Dobbs within the closing common season recreation they wanted to win towards the Jacksonville Jaguars in the event that they needed to advance to the playoffs.
Other than his potential want as a quarterback in Tennessee, a match between Rodgers and the Titans is smart in some NFL circles. Newest information from Athletic he cites two NFL executives pointing to the Titans as a vacation spot for Rodgers, calling Tennessee “extra tempo.”
And when you take a step again and have a look at the remainder of the AFC South, whereas the Jaguars look aggressive in 2023, each the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans will doubtless start their quarterback debuts in some unspecified time in the future in 2023, if not instantly in Week 1. The Titans could have an opportunity for a fast change within the division, which isn’t doubtless with different potential AFC touchdown spots.
3. New York jets
By the best way.
After we did this train for Derek Carr, the New York Jets have been listed as the most effective touchdown spot for his companies.
Why is Rodgers solely third?
Properly, as a result of there are two higher choices for it, at the very least from the place I am sitting.
Nonetheless, the Jets are an intriguing place for any quarterback within the offseason. They have been competent quarterbacks away from a playoff spot – and possibly much more – final season, and the Jets have loads of younger expertise on the roster. They’ve defensive rookie of the 12 months Sauce Gardner on one facet of the sphere and offensive rookie of the 12 months Garrett Wilson on the opposite.
And let’s not overlook, Breece Corridor himself was a contender for this award earlier than he suffered an harm in late October.
There may be additionally the Nathaniel Hackett issue given the earlier relationship between the 2 throughout their time in Inexperienced Bay. Although it did not fairly work out for the Denver Broncos throughout the low season.
Would Rodgers wish to go to the Large Apple? Would he prefer to play for AFC East? Would he actually observe the identical path as his predecessor at Inexperienced Bay and play for the Jets after leaving the Packers?
The solutions to those questions are harder and open the door to 2 different choices.
2. Inexperienced Bay packers
My understanding is that the body of this text is that the Packers are poised to maneuver away from Rodgers, and the McGinn Report maintains that if he does return to Inexperienced Bay, will probably be assist for Love. All of which makes the concept of Rodgers returning to Inexperienced Bay appear far-fetched.
However the purpose why I feel a return to Inexperienced Bay is probably going is as follows. Through the NFL season, I am on radio each week in Wisconsin Invoice Michaels presentand each Wednesday we talked about Rodgers, the Packers and the whole lot NFL associated. And because the season drew to an in depth and Inexperienced Bay headed again to the playoffs, one thing began clicking for the Packers, and in my thoughts as nicely.
Rodgers regarded like he was having fun with himself once more.
And I bear in mind telling Invoice a number of instances that even when they did not make the playoffs, Rodgers’ newfound chemistry with younger audiences in Inexperienced Bay, together with Christian Watson, might repay in different methods. Not with a playoff spot, however with giving Rodgers a purpose to come back again for one more 12 months. He was having enjoyable once more and getting together with the younger Packers receivers, and now he had a proof of idea in entrance of him of the way it might all work in Inexperienced Bay.
How might he win one other title for the Packers, overtaking Favre and equaling Bart Starr.
I am going to persist with this concept for some time.
1. The Las Vegas Raiders
Nonetheless, the chemistry exists elsewhere for Rodgers, in Las Vegas with former teammate Davante Adams.
The Raiders appear to be the right touchdown spot as a result of, confronted with the prospect of enjoying with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis 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 the Raiders might choose within the first spherical might have Las Vegas chasing these three groups for the foreseeable future.
Nonetheless, the reunion of Rodgers and Adams makes it a completely completely different dialogue.
However is that this the trail Josh McDaniels prefers? We noticed how his time in Denver made Jay Cutler go away city, and now his first 12 months in Vegas ends with Carr leaving Sin Metropolis. Does McDaniels wish to strive once more with a 3rd veteran or is he in search of a rookie to draft and develop?