Packers: Aaron Rodgers potential return pushes problem to 2022

With NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting that Aaron Rodgers “does plan to play” for the Green Bay Packers this season, it’s looking like we’ll get at least one more year of the three-time MVP wearing the green and gold.

But that likely isn’t the end of the situation. Don’t be surprised if Rodgers’ future is back under the spotlight following the conclusion of the 2021 season.

Unless Rodgers and the Packers come to an agreement on a long-term commitment, next offseason could be a good time for both sides to part ways.

For the Packers, they could transition to Jordan Love as their QB in his third season after two years to develop his game and learn from Rodgers. For Rodgers, it would be a chance to finally leave an unhappy situation and attempt to replicate Tom Brady’s success with another team.

A potential trade would be more manageable on the Packers’ salary cap in 2022, too. According to Over The Cap, trading Rodgers in 2022 would come with a dead cap hit of $17.2 million, which is high, but it’s almost half the dead cap hit that would’ve been left had they traded him prior to June 1 this year.

Maybe 2022 will be a year of change for the Packers and Rodgers, but that’s a conversation for the future. And it’s still possible the two sides will come to a resolution with Rodgers playing many more years in Green Bay.

For now though, it’s looking likely Rodgers will be back out there for the Packers in 2021, and that’s great for everyone involved. Green Bay gets its MVP back. And for Rodgers, his likely best shot at winning a championship this year is with the Packers.

If Rodgers does indeed play in Green Bay this year, questions about his future will have to wait until 2022.