Aaron Rodgers spurns Broncos, returns to the Packers on massive deal
Back-to-back MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers has decided to return to the Green Bay Packers on a four-year, record-breaking deal.
The Green Bay Packers have pulled it off. They are bringing back both Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams for the 2022 season (and beyond) according to multiple reports.
Pat McAfee was the first to break the news that Rodgers was returning to the Packers in 2022, but his report was followed up very quickly with some financial details from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
BREAKING: According to my sources.. @AaronRodgers12 will officially be returning to the Green Bay Packers.
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 8, 2022
There is no deal in place currently but there is said to be a Cap Friendly deal on the way.
Retirement was a real consideration & in the end
🗣 HE IS BACK WITH THE PACK pic.twitter.com/1lpdcLxyPL
Aaron Rodgers agrees to a record-breaking deal with the Packers
And the financial details from Rapoport…
The #Packers and MVP QB Aaron Rodgers have agreed to terms on a 4-year, $200M deal that makes him the highest paid player in NFL history, sources say. He gets a whopping $153M guaranteed and his cap number goes down. A monstrous commitment by GB for years to come. 💰 💰 💰
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2022
For what it’s worth, McAfee said that “his sources” indicated the report of a $200 million contract with $153 million in guarantees was inaccurate.
Everyone knows that McAfee’s source is Aaron Rodgers, so take that for what you will. Perhaps some amended contract details will emerge later on, but for the time being, the news in Green Bay is overwhelmingly positive.
Aaron Rodgers is coming back, and staying for good.
Not only that, but Davante Adams is also coming back on the franchise tag.
This news has massive implications not only for the Green Bay Packers but also for the Denver Broncos. Over the weekend, it seemed like the pendulum was swinging pretty heavily in favor of the Denver Broncos getting Rodgers in the fold with reports that he was going back and forth over what to do in 2022, reports that he was torn about what to do, and the fact that multiple offers could be on the table for the Packers to consider in a trade.
In the end, maybe Rodgers really did consider the Broncos a destination.
The reality is, it always felt like a longshot for Rodgers to leave Green Bay, as fun as it was to speculate for the majority of the last year.
Where do the Denver Broncos go from here?
That’s going to be one of the more fascinating things to watch this offseason as they are widely expected to be a landing spot for a veteran quarterback. Could the attention turn to Russell Wilson now? Deshaun Watson? Jimmy Garoppolo?
There are a variety of options that make sense for the Denver Broncos and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett, but the question is whether or not they can actually pull off a deal.
With Rodgers apparently agreeing to an extension that makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history ($50 million per year), the Packers can now move forward with signing additional free agents and making additional moves to upgrade the roster around him.
Expect Green Bay to now be a bit more aggressive in free agency to surround Rodgers as they now become favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl next season.