Denver Broncos on Aaron Rodgers’ preferred trade list?
If Aaron Rodgers has played his last game as a member of the Green Bay Packers, George Paton should be doing everything in his power to get him on the Denver Broncos. The NFL MVP is apparently ticked off enough at the Packers that he’s threatening to never play for them again.
Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers is so disgruntled with the Green Bay Packers that he has told some within the organization that he does not want to return to the team, league and team sources told ESPN on Thursday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2021
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If Aaron Rodgers is available, in even the slightest capacity, the Denver Broncos need to get on the phone with Packers GM Brian Gutekunst and figure out what it’s going to take to make it happen.
The great news is, if a deal is to be done, tonight’s the night to do it. Not that the Packers couldn’t hold out and take picks later down the line, but if Rodgers doesn’t show up for work (he has a gig waiting for him with Jeopardy, potentially), what leverage do they have?
Rodgers is nothing if not one to carry a chip on his shoulder. Since he was absolutely snubbed of the number one pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Rodgers has proven to be something else with his personality. He is infamous for not being much of a family guy but for the most part, it seems like Rodgers is a good dude, a good teammate, and everyone knows he’s arguably the best football player in the world.
Even with his quirks, Rodgers is, well, Rodgers. And if he’s available, to reiterate, Denver Broncos GM George Paton should be all over it.
The Packers are not likely to trade Rodgers to an NFC competitor, but they might crack if he’s willing to go to an AFC team. Although this seems a bit surreal to type, a (short) list of teams Rodgers would be willing to play for has leaked to the public.
The Denver Broncos are on it.
From unimpeachable source: As of last night, Aaron Rodgers’ wish list was 49ers, Broncos, Raiders (not necessarily in that order). He wanted Packers to take the 49ers’ offer. Next move by Rodgers is TBD.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 29, 2021
According to Trey Wingo, Rodgers was convinced as of last night that he was heading to the San Francisco 49ers in a trade. Wait a second — what?
This is one of the most bizarre draft day stories I have ever come across, but it is certainly very possible that it’s one of the most beneficial to the Denver Broncos.
Just like thinking of Peyton Manning playing in another NFL city or Tom Brady playing in another NFL city was once laughable, Aaron Rodgers playing anywhere but Green Bay is laughable, right?
Apparently not. And he apparently would be down to play for the Denver Broncos.
If the Packers aren’t going to trade Rodgers to Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers, then Denver makes way more sense than the Las Vegas Raiders. The Broncos have a better roster overall, they have a GM in George Paton who is not on the hot seat like Mike Mayock may be with the Raiders, and the Broncos have more cap space and better draft picks.
Do we need to go into more?
The quarterback the Packers could get in return in a trade is not relevant in this situation, as part of what sparked the disdain Rodgers has for the Packers was the team’s decision to trade up in the 2020 NFL Draft for Utah State quarterback Jordan Love.
The Packers did to Aaron Rodgers what they once did to Brett Favre by selecting Aaron Rodgers.
Back then, the Packers ultimately relented and traded Favre to the New York Jets when he demanded a trade. Would they do the same for Rodgers now in 2021?