The date that many NFL fans, specifically those of the Denver Broncos continue to talk about, June 1, is quickly approaching.
The reason for that is simple. By waiting until after June 1, the Green Bay Packers, a team already strapped by the salary cap, can save a lot of money if the decision is to trade star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Packers are certainly caught in a pickle. The feud between Rodgers and the front office has been made very public and though many members of the NFL media seemed to be downplaying their sour relationship and don’t believe Rodgers is going anywhere, the team does have some big decisions to make.
Who knows, maybe they’ll convince the Broncos to take Love instead?
Rodgers is 37 years old and the team did draft Jordan Love in the first round last year. It would make sense to move one of those guys this year, as it seems highly unlikely that the Packers would just keep going with Rodgers and a former first-round pick just sitting on the bench for the next three seasons or more.
Of course, the Broncos are the team that has been most connected to Rodgers and the trade rumors have been swirling since the start of the NFL Draft.
If the Broncos and Packers were to make a deal, what would the Packers be looking to get back? Here are some ideas, and a package for the reigning league MVP would likely include most or even all of these things.
One of the quarterbacks
The Packers would want to get a quarterback in return for the one they were giving up, either Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater.
If Rodgers is traded, the Packers would turn to Love as the starter but the only other quarterbacks on the roster are Blake Bortles and Kurt Benkert. Both Lock and Bridgewater would be major upgrades over them and they would be seen as a more suitable backup.
Bridgewater would probably make more sense to go over in the deal, giving Love an experienced veteran to learn from going forward. It would also give the Packers a capable option should Love falter.
Lock would then become the backup in Denver, getting a chance to gain knowledge from one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.