Aaron Rodgers has made it clear he’s not enamored with staying with the Green Bay Packers, but there are three moves that could sway him to stay.
The news of the summer for the NFL has been quarterback Aaron Rodgers reportedly intending to cut ties with the Green Bay Packers and wants to play for a team that will put his interests first. It’s no secret that the front office has done a fair share of moves behind the back of their franchise passer, including trading up in the first round of the draft to select his future successor, Jordan Love.
Make no mistake about it, the relationship between Rodgers and the Packers is abysmal. And though he reportedly plans on playing for Green Bay in 2021, the hopes of him remaining with the organization beyond this season as it stands now are delusional at best.
However, there is an emphasis on the words “as it stands now” because Rodgers wants to be Packer for life. He’s said many times that he would love to retire a Green Bay Packer but he’s clearly in a significant debacle with the respect he’s given by the franchise.
Rather than the front office simply saying that they’re “committed to Aaron Rodgers for 2021 and beyond”, they can put their actions to words and make one of three moves that could prove to him that they want to win now and win with him as their quarterback.
It won’t be easy — and it certainly won’t be cheap. But to remain a top team in the NFL with one of the most talented quarterbacks of all time, it’ll be completely worth it to make these moves to keep Rodgers in Green Bay.
3. Extend WR Davante Adams immediately
The Packers need to not just sign wide receiver Davante Adams, but sign him for as much as it costs. You can’t mold a player into the top threat at his position and not pay him like it. If there is any wideout who is deserving of a massive payday, it’s the guy that has been your franchise quarterback’s favorite target.
It’s rumored that Adams is expecting a similar contract to that of Arizona Cardinals wideout DeAndre Hopkins, which was a two-year contract for $54.5 million with an annual average value of $27.5 million. No matter how hard the Green Bay Packers try, they won’t be able to change the growth of the market and how much players get paid. If a wide receiver can average nearly 100 yards per game, what excuse do you have for not signing him long-term?
The salary cap can be a factor, but name a team that’s in win-now mode and has $20 million in salary-cap space. Listen to the crickets. That’s because they don’t exist.
The Packers can’t have their cake and eat it too. If you are going to go all-in, you go all-in. Re-sign Adams for what he’s worth because at the current rate, if (and when) Aaron Rodgers leaves, who do you think is going to follow him? When players are more loyal to each other than the organization, you wind up with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
If Green Bay isn’t careful, they’ll be lucky if they can beat the Detroit Lions in five years. In order to repair the damage that’s been caused, they need to build a foundation and it starts with making their superstars happy. Ensure that Adams is an invaluable part of this franchise by paying him the money he feels he deserves. Grind your teeth at night if it helps, but if this team wants to win a Super Bowl, they’re going to need Adams on their side.
2. Trade for EDGE Chandler Jones
While he’s not a player on the offense, edge rusher Chandler Jones is a player who can give the ball to the offense with an unnatural ability to cause destruction in the backfield. What was once a fabled rumor of bringing the Cardinals’ vet to Titletown could become an unbelievable reality
The Packers struck gold after bringing in Za’Darius Smith to the team as he’s become one of the NFL’s most fearsome edge rushers with a knack for getting to the quarterback. Where the Cheeseheads lack, however, is on the inside of the tackles.
Now, with the news of a trade request out of Arizona being reported by ESPN, Green Bay could harvest the most fearsome defense in the entire league, one that could easily give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or San Fransisco 49ers a run for their money.
What frustrates Aaron Rodgers the most is that, even after an unstoppable march down the field for a touchdown, the Packers defense lets up a touchdown just two minutes later, forcing No. 12 to score another touchdown of his own. There is only so much one man can do and, without a defense that can prevent the opposing team from scoring and even with the boundless talent of A-Rod, the chances of winning are slim.
To win it all, a team needs to keep their defense off the field. The longer playing time they get, the worse the result. The Packers built their defense to stop a team quickly and to turn the ball over often. But when you play a team that can hold off your top pass-rusher and top cornerback, eventually a guy like Tom Brady is going to pick you apart.
To make teams uneasy, they have to acquire Chandler Jones. As a part of a win-now strategy, draft picks are useless. If it requires a first and second-round selection, so be it. If the end result is a Super Bowl, then it’s safe to say the trade would be well worth it.
What serves as the double-edged sword for the Green Bay Packers is their draft and development philosophy. Historically, the Pack gets alligator arms when it comes to big free agents and trades and plays the cautious approach towards winning. Aaron Rodgers can’t wait around for a player to develop into a solid player in three years.
The quarterback and the team need someone who can play at an elite level now. Trading for Chandler Jones will show him that they want to win with Rodgers and for Rodgers.
1. Fire GM Brian Gutekunst
t’s clear that general manager Brian Gutekunst is not on the same page as the rest of the team. He’s the one responsible for causing the mayhem that has led the Pack to this situation. Failing to acknowledge the state of the team and failing to even communicate his intentions with Rodgers is enough to show that he’s not capable of running a Super Bowl contending team in the NFL.
If the Green Bay Packers truly and deeply want Rodgers to stay, they need to remove the general manager who has failed the organization, players and fans, and give the organization a guy in the suit who will represent the team’s plans to win a championship.
Gutekunst is the definition of someone who wants to have it all but fails to recognize reality. The GM was the man who traded up in the 2020 NFL Draft to acquire Jordan Love without telling Rodgers and now must be sent to the metaphorical chopping block for it.
Gutey came in riding high with the fanbase when he brought in Za’Darius Smith and strong safety Adrian Amos in the 2019 offseason. But what has he done lately?
Well, he’s upset his superstar and future Hall-of-Fame quarterback by bringing in his successor after an NFC Championship appearance, cut wide receivers a day after Rodgers praised them for their abilities, and has ultimately led to the demise of a once-great sports team.
There are no guidelines or step-by-step on how the team can get out of this situation they’ve created. The only way this can be fixed for the long-term is by showing every way possible that they’re committed to No. 12 under center.