Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
And Adam Schefter just poured fuel on the Aaron Rodgers fire.
Schefter made it clear Saturday morning that Rodgers hasn’t requested a trade yet, but clarified he will be traded quickly if he decides he wants that to happen.
If Aaron Rodgers decides he wants to he traded, it will be easy enough to get it done. No need for the Packers to engage in trade talks before then. If Rodgers wants trade, he will get trade, quickly.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2022
During the season, Rodgers was so remarkable, he won a second straight NFL MVP. He also continuously kept the spotlight on himself with all the COVID-19 vaccination and misinformation drama. Since being bounced from the playoffs in the Divisional Round, Rodgers is still the most talked about NFL player seemingly daily.
In Denver, the excitement over possibly trading for Rodgers began a year ago, during the last offseason. But Rodgers eventually decided to stay with the Packers, his one and only NFL team during his 17-year career.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Rodgers’ former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is now the Denver Broncos head coach. And back in 2020, Rodgers told the media of Hackett, “I hope he doesn’t go anywhere, unless I do.”
Outside of Hackett’s arrival, the Packers are in big trouble in terms of their salary cap, even though they have worked to free up about $25 million in space in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Denver has a ton of cap space — the sixth-most in the league at $39.2M — and the Broncos impressed with a dynamite defense last year.
Of course, the Broncos would have to bring back a lot of those impact defenders, who are currently free agents. Josey Jewell, Alexander Johnson, Kareem Jackson, Bryce Callahan, Kyle Fuller; they’re all free agents, but it’s possible they would play for slight pay cuts if Rodgers joined the efforts in Denver.
The Broncos also have a lot of other young, talented players they could send to Green Bay, along with the No. 9 overall pick (and other selections) in a trade for Rodgers.
If George Paton was somehow able to pull off the trade for Rodgers, he’d earn a ton of respect not only in the Mile High City — where he’d likely buy himself a decade as the GM — but around the league, too.
Again, it’s still a long shot for Rodgers to be traded to the Broncos, but it also sounds like the superstar quarterback’s final two teams are Denver and Green Bay.
Meanwhile, today Rodgers will be officiating David Bakhtiari’s wedding and could even let Matt LaFleur know his intentions.
Today Packers LT David Bakhtiari is getting married in California. Aaron Rodgers is set to officiate it. Matt LaFleur will be there. Rodgers is likely to tell the Packers what he wants to do by Tuesday afternoon. Timing is kinda wild.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) March 5, 2022
Until a decision is made, the Rodgers to Denver rumors will continue. Especially as the Broncos have been desperate for a real quarterback since 2015.