After trading up to draft his heir apparent, the Packers put a ticking clock on Aaron Rodgers’ tenure in Green Bay. What does his future hold?
It’s been over six weeks since the conclusion of the NFL Draft, and I am still reeling over the fact that the Green Bay Packers traded up in the first round for a quarterback. I understand the strategy of taking a developmental prospect to groom behind your starter; eventually, that player could either be a tremendous insurance policy or provide a hefty return several years later via trade. However, that is not the Packers’ plan.
With Aaron Rodgers nearing the end of his prime, the Packers elected to draft for the future instead of trying to win now. Green Bay traded a first and fourth round pick to move up four spots in order to draft Jordan Love. They chose to draft a quarterback in lieu of a position of need, such as wide receiver.
Aaron Rodgers said regarding the Love pick, per USA Today’s FTW:
"“Not going to say I was thrilled by the pick, necessarily. But I understand the organization is not thinking just about the present, but the future and I respect that.”"
Rodgers had mentioned previously his hopes of retiring as a Packer, but this move by the organization casts much doubt on that possibility. Nonetheless, Rodgers will be suiting up for the Green and Gold for the foreseeable future, as there is not a reasonable out in his contract until 2022.
Rodgers is under contract with Green Bay through the 2023 season, but the Packers can trade him the year prior by taking a $17 million dead cap hit. If they wait until 2023, they’ll only take a $3 million dead cap hit.
While there’s a remote possibility Rodgers finishes out his career before Love is handed the reins, it seems more likely than not that the future Hall-of-Famer will play well into his 40s like Tom Brady. If that is indeed the case, Rodgers will eventually don a different uniform for the first time in his professional career.
So let’s take a look two years into the future. The year is 2022 and Brian Gutekunst will no longer allow his first-round pick to sit on the bench. A lot will be different two years from now, so it may be difficult to project who will have a need at quarterback. Nonetheless, let’s take a speculative look at where Aaron Rodgers could end his career.
5. San Francisco 49ers
Aaron Rodgers is a California kid, and I am sure it would be poetic justice for Rodgers to end up with the team that should have taken him No. 1 overall in 2005. Rodgers has never been shy about mentioning his love for the San Francisco 49ers and how his younger self dreamed he could one day suit up for the franchise.
Two years from now, he may finally fulfill his childhood dream. Jimmy Garoppolo would be entering the last year of his deal, in which the 49ers could cut or trade him for only a $1.4 million dead cap hit.
The former Patriot will have had two years to win a Super Bowl with one of the most complete rosters in the NFL. If he hasn’t won anything by then, the organization could elect to go all-in on Rodgers.
Garoppolo performed well in his first full year as a starter, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio. I am still a believer in the young quarterback, so that’s why the 49ers are the lowest on this list. Still, I like the potential of an Aaron Rodgers-Kyle Shanahan duo in Santa Clara.
4. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts elected to pursue the veteran route at the quarterback position by signing Philip Rivers to a one-year deal this offseason. However, the team has said they would consider the possibility of Rivers being more than a one-year rental.
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If the former Charger can hold down the fort until 2022, Aaron Rodgers could become a potential candidate to fill the void in Indianapolis.
Frank Reich is an innovative offensive coach that would let Rodgers have free reign within his system. His scheme allowed Nick Foles to win a Super Bowl and made Jacoby Brissett a serviceable quarterback. The Colts have also prioritized the offensive line in the past few years, so they could potentially still be the league’s top unit by the time Rodgers becomes available.
Indianapolis would welcome Rodgers with open arms as he would finally bring stability to a position that hasn’t thrived since the early years of Andrew Luck. Rodgers may not want to change conferences, but after Brady did so this offseason, that remains a possibility.
If Rodgers wins a Super Bowl in Indianapolis, he could get a statue right alongside Peyton Manning outside of Lucas Oil Stadium.
3. Minnesota Vikings
This would be a doomsday scenario for Green Bay. Before you say it is impossible that Rodgers is traded to the Minnesota Vikings, did you think Brett Farve would end up in the division? Rodgers’ departure from Green Bay could play out similarly to Farve’s, in which the quarterback is traded out of conference for one year until he ultimately returns to the NFC North. This article isn’t about Rodgers’ next team; it is about the team where he will end his career.
While the Vikings may like Kirk Cousins, it doesn’t seem they believe he’s their long-term answer. This offseason, the Vikings awarded Cousins a two-year, $66 million extension that runs through 2022.
However, they could get out of the deal before the 2022 season by taking a $10 million dead cap hit. Given Cousins has been efficient, although unremarkable, he may serve as a placeholder until Minnesota finds their next franchise quarterback.
While Rodgers and Cousins had similar statistics last year, it is unquestionable that Rodgers is the more talented quarterback. He could instantly turn Minnesota from playoff-caliber to title contender overnight. Given Rodgers is one to hold grudges, this would be the perfect move to show Green Bay that they made the wrong decision in choosing Love over him.
2. New Orleans Saints
The plan for a post-Drew Brees squad in New Orleans gets murkier by the day. Will Sean Payton hand over the reins to Taysom Hill, the do-it-all gadget player who has only thrown 13 career passes? Will he start Jameis Winston, the former Buccaneer that has a big arm and a propensity for turnovers? Will he just let Michael Thomas throw and catch the ball?
Brees has one, maybe two, years left as the starter in New Orleans. While Hill and Winston would be interesting replacements, I think Aaron Rodgers could be a perfect fit in the Big Easy.
Payton is one of the best offensive coaches in the league and knows how to fully utilize a Hall-of-Fame quarterback. He will allow Aaron Rodgers to play in one of the league’s best offenses and give him a bounty of weapons in which to use.
The Saints are unlikely to have a high enough draft pick to select a young quarterback in the year Brees retires, so it seems likely they will pursue a veteran once he hangs up his cleats. If Winston or Hill doesn’t pan out, Payton has a clear shot of trading a treasure trove of assets to Green Bay for his next Hall-of-Famer.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have heavily invested in their offense over the past few years, boasting one of the best offensive line units in the league. They will have Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb under contract for the foreseeable future, and the explosive Tony Pollard may be the starting running back by 2022.
If Aaron Rodgers made the transition to Dallas, he could put up historic numbers and easily get the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl.
The Cowboys current quarterback, Dak Prescott, played incredibly well last season, throwing for nearly 5,000 yards and tossing 30 touchdowns to only 11 interceptions. Yet, the contract talks between his agent and the team have been less than promising.
It appears Prescott wants to be one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league, which Jerry Jones is unwilling to make happen. With Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson due for mega-extensions, the price will only get higher.
The Cowboys can let Prescott play under the franchise tag this season and next season until they are ready to make a move for Rodgers in 2022; it’s not uncommon for players to play multiple years under the tag, so it’s possible this could be a thought running through Jones’ mind.
While many will bring up how Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers have a strained relationship, I am sure Jones wouldn’t hesitate to let Rodgers handpick his next coach should they be able to acquire him. Nonetheless, Rodgers ending his career in Dallas could be a legacy-defining move.