Aaron Rodgers has a wish list of three NFL teams to be traded to as he tries to leave the Packers. But which landing spot is the best for the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback?
Just hours before the 2021 NFL Draft got underway, a bombshell rocked the NFL world. After two-straight NFC Championship Game appearances, reports surfaced that reigning NFL MVP, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, no longer wants to play with the Green Bay Packers. In fact, he expressed that he doesn’t plan on returning to the franchise, thus necessitating a possible trade.
Retirement is certainly an option for the former first-round pick at quarterback, especially given his recently successful run as the guest host of Jeopardy! However, considering how well he played in the 2020 season, it would make the most sense if the one-time Super Bowl champion goes to another team to try and win another ring — and, hopefully, be treated right by the franchise, something Green Bay has obviously failed to accomplish.
Interestingly enough, though, Rodgers reportedly has a wish list of teams he would like the Packers to trade him to. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Aaron Rodgers has a desire to play for the following three teams: the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers.
Clearly wanting to be on the west coast, there’s no guarantee that, if the Packers trade the quarterback, that it is to one of those three franchises. But looking solely at that trio, how do they stack up to one another with how they’d fare with Rodgers? Lets’ rank the three teams on Aaron Rodgers’ wish list.
3. Aaron Rodgers would help but not entirely fix the Las Vegas Raiders
Whenever Jon Gruden (and a couple of seasons later Mike Mayock) came to the Las Vegas Raiders, the expectations that came with him were immense. As a former Super Bowl champion and with a roster that could be molded in any image, the hope was that he could work it into a great one.
That hasn’t completely happened, though. In fact, many instances of Gruden’s tenure with the Raiders have been more frustrating than anything else. But while there were times early on when Derek Carr was considered to be a big part of the issue, that hasn’t looked to be the case in recent years.
Carr has been playing the best football of his career over the past couple of seasons. However, it would be foolish to suggest that Rodgers wouldn’t be an upgrade there. You’re talking about replacing an above-average quarterback with one of the best. The question is how much of a difference that would make.
To me, the answer to that is not enough. We have not seen any evidence that Mayock and Gruden can construct a successful defensive unit and the offensive line is in question after they dismantled that group in the offseason. Thus, while Rodgers would make the Raiders better, his plight for another ring would still fall short with Las Vegas.
2. Aaron Rodgers could drastically change the Denver Broncos offense
Since Peyton Manning stepped away (and arguably throughout his final season), the Denver Broncos have been looking for a long-term answer at quarterback, but to no avail. Guys like Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler and most recently Drew Lock, among others, have not held the answers.
Recently, though, the team traded for veteran Teddy Bridgewater, a move that should elevate the quarterback position in a meaningful way. Denver spent much of last offseason compiling offensive talent to try and help Lock but the young quarterback couldn’t take advantage. Bridgewater, however, can.
With that offensive talent and a defense capable of playing at a championship level, the Broncos could win a lot of games with Teddy Bridgewater. Unfortunately, my belief would be that they still would be a step below teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills in terms of Super Bowl contention out of the AFC.
Having said that, Rodgers would elevate them further. In fact, I would go as far as to say that, on paper, the Denver Broncos could win another Super Bowl if they traded with the Packers. They may not be the favorites to do so but, if the talent broke the right way around the current NFL MVP, it would definitely be in the cards.
1. The San Francisco 49ers would win a Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers
Famously, the San Francisco 49ers are the hometown team of Aaron Rodgers that passed up on the Cal Golden Bears product in the 2005 NFL Draft. So when the Niners’ reported interest and the quarterback’s interest as well came about, that led to the potential for the ultimate example of spite to become possible:
Jokes aside, it’s hard not to think about the San Francisco 49ers’ potential with Rodgers under center. He’s the single-most talented quarterback we’ve seen in the last 30 years, if not ever. Meanwhile, the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl and were in position to win it with Jimmy Garoppolo, the epitome of average quarterback play, starting just two years ago.
Rodgers coming back to the Bay Area would change everything. Nick Bosa and the San Francisco defense are ready to win a Super Bowl. Shanahan is capable of coaching an offense to that level, especially with by far the best quarterback he’s ever coached coming into the fray. And the offensive weapons have only been getting better in recent years.
After trading up and using the No. 3 pick on Trey Lance, the 49ers may be out of the running for a potential Aaron Rodgers trade — or maybe that’s just more ammunition for a deal. But if we’re looking at the quarterback’s wish list, there is no question San Francisco is the most attractive possible landing spot. He would get a second ring, if not a third as well. Of that, I have no doubt.