New England Patriots: Is Aaron Rodgers trade a pipe dream or possibility?

With questions surrounding the future of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, could the veteran quarterback actually end up with the New England Patriots?

For yet another offseason, questions surrounding the future of the quarterback position for the New England Patriots remain after legendary quarterback Tom Brady departed the organization prior to the 2020 NFL season to take his talents to Tampa Bay.

To try and fill that void left behind by Brady, the Patriots went out and signed veteran quarterback Cam Newton off the free agent market to take a flyer on the quarterback to try and lead the team in 2020 and perhaps beyond.

After a disappointing performance from both Newton and New England this year, resulting in the team missing out on a postseason berth for the first time since 2008, more questions than answers remain under center for the Patriots leading into another season.

The good news for the Patriots is that there might end up being a decent amount of options available via the free agency and trade markets or through the upcoming NFL Draft to shore up that need ahead of the 2021 campaign.

Among the growing list of names, one intriguing veteran quarterback could eventually emerge as someone looking to take his talents elsewhere, which would have to come via trade. That quarterback happens to be Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers and the Packers fell in the NFC Championship Round over the weekend, falling to Brady and the Buccaneers who are going to be facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV in Tampa.

After the loss, the veteran quarterback talked about his future in Green Bay and created some uncertainty as to if the two sides will continue to be a pairing moving forward. The Packers, of course, drafted Rodgers’ eventual replacement Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft, serving as the quarterback-in-waiting behind Rodgers.

Here’s what he had to say to reporters following the loss to Tampa Bay, per NFL.com:

"“There’s a lot of guys’ futures that are uncertain — myself included,” Rodgers said to the media post-game."

With questions now swirling Rodgers’ future, could he end up being a target for the Patriots to try and trade for this offseason or is that more of a pipe dream than a reality? The rumors have certainly began to take place.

Could Aaron Rodgers be heading to the New England Patriots via trade?

After the NFC Championship Game this weekend, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio tweeted a list of teams that could be ideal landing spots for Rodgers. One of those teams happened to be New England.

When it comes to potentially trading for Rodgers, obviously there’s a long way to go yet before that would theoretically take place. Rodgers could force his way out of Green Bay, resulting in the team looking for the best possible suitor to complete a trade with.

For New England, a trade for the veteran would fill the glaring hole at quarterback that has been present ever since Brady departed for Tampa Bay, although it wouldn’t be a long-term answer under center.

Rodgers still has two years left on his contract, set to make over $37 million in 2021 and nearly $40 million in 2022. The Patriots, however, have enough salary cap space to make that move doable.

New England could also offer up some attractive draft picks, as it holds the No. 15 selection in the upcoming 2021 Draft along with other potentially pieces to move.

Of course, anything is possible and you never know what players are capable of in persuading a team to part ways even if they are under contract. Although Rodgers departing from Green Bay seems like it would be an unrealistic outcome, teams will start calling. And Bill Belichick and the Patriots should make a run to make this somewhat of a pipe dream a reality this offseason.