The Green Bay Packers have failed Aaron Rodgers, and nothing is more obvious than what they did on Sunday against the hopeless Detroit Lions. The Packers may never know how good they had it with Aaron Rodgers until he decides to leave.
In fact, he nearly left after the 2021 season. Before the season, there were reports of a gentlemen’s agreement between Rodgers and the Packers. The two sides would agree that he’d play out the season, and they’d revisit his situation at the end of the season.
After an upset loss in the 2021 playoffs, the Packers and Aaron Rodgers evidently got together and agreed on a record contract extension, but the cost of that extension included trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, you’d think that the dropoff from Rodgers’ back-to-back MVP performances wouldn’t be that great, right? Wrong. What we are seeing with the 2022 Green Bay Packers offense is a culmination of the absolute neglect that the front office allowed to happen to the pass catchers in Green Bay.
They just didn’t invest much at all in their pass catchers during the Rodgers era. Did they even use a first-round pick on a wide receiver since Rodgers has been throwing passes in the 12 jersey? Davante Adams wasn’t even a first-round pick.
They continued to use their high draft picks on defensive players like Jaire Alexander, Darnell Savage, Devonte Wyatt, Quay Walker, and Rashan Gary, and made several free agent additions. What has that gotten them though besides regular season success?
After all of that, Green Bay again double down and used their high draft picks on defensive players in the 2022 NFL Draft. They signed Sammy Watkins in the offseason, who can’t separate from anyone anymore, and drafted Romeo Doubs in the middle rounds.
Their wide receiver room might even be less talented than the Chicago Bears, who were getting absolutely crushed during the offseason about their own lack of talent in that room. Apparently, Green Bay tried to acquire a wide receiver at the trade deadline, but to no avail. They offered a second-round pick for Chase Claypool, but the Steelers took the Bears’ same offer because they thought that the Bears’ second-rounder would be higher.
I’m not so sure about that now.
If Aaron Rodgers decided to retire at the end of the 2022 season, which likely is not ending in a playoff spot, I’m not sure anyone would be surprised. The fact that the Packers even let it get to the point where Rodgers wanted out is inexcusable.
He is the most talented and physically gifted quarterback to have ever played the game, and they have one Super Bowl to show for it 12 years ago.