Packers: What’s next after heartbreaking end to the ‘Last Dance’?

What if Aaron Rodgers stays with Packers?

Many fans would be ecstatic to hear that Rodgers is staying with the Packers, but many others would likely still want to trade him. For starters, Rodgers has continually not shown up when his team needed him to in the playoffs. Putting up 10 points in a home playoff game is just unacceptable.

Additionally, the Packers would need to give Rodgers a contract extension if they want him to stay with the team, as a way to lower his $46.44 million cap hit. Giving a lucrative contract extension to a 38-year-old quarterback is a risky move, no matter how good he’s been playing.

Nonetheless, this is probably the best-case scenario for the Packers. Retaining a Hall-of-Fame quarterback at the peak of his powers is always going to help a team win. Also, this gives the Packers their best chance at retaining Davante Adams, even if Russ Ball would likely have to push off even more cap hits to the future.

A team with Rodgers on it is always going to be a contender, and while next year’s Packers team likely won’t be as strong as this one, Rodgers still gives them a chance to win a Super Bowl.

In this scenario, the Packers would likely need to trade Jordan Love, promoting Kurt Benkert to full-time backup. Green Bay could likely get a decent young player or solid draft pick in return for Love, although they could also seek to trade for win-now veterans to help Rodgers get his second ring.

No matter what Rodgers decides to do this offseason, the Packers will probably be in worse shape than they were at the beginning of this season. This was the most talented Packers team since the 2014 team that was an onside kick away from going to the Super Bowl, and this season will likely be considered a disappointment for a long time. Packer fans can only hope that it doesn’t also derail the team’s future.