Time is running out for the Packers, who have less than 24 hours to use their franchise tag on Davante Adams. It would certainly help the defending NFC North champions if the two-time reigning MVP gave them a definitive answer on his 2022 plans. Aaron Rodgers has said he intends to do so by Tuesday, and the Packers are giving the future Hall of Famer more to consider.
Thought to be torn on a decision to stay in Green Bay, Rodgers has now received an offer Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports would reset the quarterback market. Specifics are light, but the price would come in above Patrick Mahomes‘ $45MM-per-year contract. While Rodgers refuted the report he is seeking a $50MM-AAV deal, Fowler’s report of a market-altering extension would seemingly be in line with that previous situational assessment.
A three- or four-year pact would help the Packers with their cap. They are currently $27MM over; an Adams tag would cost $18.4MM. Although teams have until next week to move under the cap, the Packers are cutting it close with their two best players. Rodgers is tied to a $46.1MM cap number in 2022, which is second only to Matt Ryan‘s NFL-record $48.7MM figure. Rodgers announcing he wants to stay would mean that cap figure would be dramatically reduced. His current $33.5MM-per-year contract expires after the 2022 season.
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Green Bay has been rumored to be offering Rodgers a monster extension, and Fowler notes VP of football ops Russ Ball has been in talks with Rodgers’ agent. This comes after an offseason in which Rodgers, amid a feud with GM Brian Gutekunst and team president Mark Murphy, requested a trade. After Rodgers’ fourth MVP season (second-most all time), the Packers would prefer he stay. While they are not planning to take calls on Jordan Love, a Rodgers extension would presumably change that.
It is not a lock Rodgers accepts. Other teams will be willing to pay up as well. One looms in Denver. The Broncos remain in the mix here, with Fowler adding they are prepared to trade necessary draft capital to land Rodgers. The Steelers are believed to have inquired about trading for Rodgers, but Fowler adds the Packers have set such a high price — one that would include key young players as well as draft picks — assembling such a proposal would be difficult for teams to execute.
While the Steelers have an immediate quarterback need, the Broncos have been desperate here since Peyton Manning‘s retirement six years ago. Rodgers joining Denver would, like Manning’s move 10 years ago, vault the team onto the Super Bowl contender tier. The Broncos hold $39.4MM in cap space, and Pro Football Talk reported recently they have a trade package ready. The Broncos have been connected to Rodgers for nearly a year, when they appeared on his initial destination list in April 2021. Although Rodgers does not have a no-trade clause, it is highly unlikely a team would trade for him without knowing if he would sign off on the move.
Reports are Broncos 1st and 2nd this year plus a 1st next year.
If youre the packers id ask for broncos 1st and 2nd. The rams 2nd. And 2023 1st.
If youre the packers youd be pretty dumb to not pull the trigger if youre offered 2 1sts and 2 2nds. One of the firsts being a top 10 pick.
The picks and cap savings would set them up quite nicely for the Jordan Love era, which is already 2 years deep with 3 years left on his rookie contract.
The packers want way more then 2 first rounders and 2 seconds they are asking for 3 players also
I’d be surprised if it came down to this, so the Packers can ask for it all they want and then some more, but if Aaron truly wants to go somewhere else and will retire if he doesn’t get what he wants, they pretty much have to take whatever is offered. It’s a poor business decision not to do so.
I still think he’s just using the threat of it all as leverage and won’t be leaving Green Bay.
2 firsts, 2 seconds plus 2 young high end players, preferably 1 WR and 1 DB. They like Surtain a lot
And the 2022 playoff choke award goes to… A-A-Ron, but in what color Jersey?
The only thing I can take from this is that the Packers are content with being a very good regular season team and if Rodgers takes this enormous deal that all his whining about the front office not improving the team was bs since it’s hard to improve when so much will be invested in QB and extending Adams.
Maybe the Steelers go after Love instead? Wonder what he’d cost.
Probably a 3rd or 4th rounder….just not sure if the packers wanna give up that much though.
3 stooges level.
Management: “We’ll show Aaron who is in charge here, draft Love!”.
Aaron: “Alright. Not only will a one up you, I’ll do it twice w/ back to back MVP’s and camera’s everywhere seeing me!”
Management: “Pay Aaron whatever he wants!”
The Packers FO at work…link to youtube.com
So in essence they are paying him NOT to retire.
ship him jfc
I’m a packers fan and aaron is a choke artist
Send him to Denver, see how they don’t progress to AFC Champ
-a salty packers fan lol
Forget the Broncos. Their situation is of their own making. They’ve had opportunities to get another good/great QB and made stupid decisions.
What a greedy SOB!! Screw you Sharon!
He’s going to be so mad when cousins gets a comparable fully guaranteed contract next year
Kaaron Rodgers isn’t going anywhere and (s)he will sign with Green Bay.
The Pack will then trade Love to the “Commonwealth” Commanders for a penance to appease #12.
Win Win for both clubs and the NFL as a whole.
Tag Rodgers and be done with it. Screw his sensitive feelings.
My guess? He declines it and retires.