Three options for Aaron Rodgers heading into the 2022 season

Now that the Green Bay Packers’ 2021 season has come to an abrupt close, it’s time to look at what just may be the most franchise-defining decision since the firing of Mike McCarthy following the 2018 regular-season loss to the then 2-9 Arizona Cardinals.

This situation revolves around the franchise quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

“I don’t want to be part of a rebuild if I’m going to keep playing,” Rodgers said in his post-game press conference after the divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers. That is a pretty telling statement knowing how tight Green Bay is in regard to the cap being roughly $40 million over the 2022 salary cap.

The 2022 Green Bay Packers roster will look significantly different than it did this past season and quarterback may be the most different. Aaron Rodgers has three realistic scenarios for his future and some Packers fans might not like one of them.

Option 1: Aaron Rodgers gets traded

This option is most likely to be the least liked by fans, but it may just be the most logical if the organization feels it’s time to move on from Rodgers. Just this past offseason we saw Matthew Stafford get shipped out of Detroit for two first-round draft picks, a third-round pick and QB Jared Goff from the LA Rams. At the time, Stafford had never won a playoff game and hadn’t had a winning season since 2017.

The reason I bring this up is because Rodgers is a soon to be four-time MVP of the NFL, had back-to-back-to-back years of 13 regular-season wins and has already won a Super Bowl (albeit 11 years ago). The amount of future draft capital a player like Rodgers would take to acquire would be astronomical. I believe it would take at least two first-round picks, two day two draft picks, and a starter from the team getting Rodgers to make this trade go through.

Getting these draft picks would allow Green Bay to begin a “rebuild” around Jordan Love, the quarterback they traded up to get in the 2020 draft. They could start fresh on offense with cheap contracts and young players. Although this is not the option most fans want, it most certainly could be what happens this upcoming offseason.

Option 2: Aaron Rodgers retires from the NFL

If we look at how other QBs have played the year before they retire, like Drew Brees in 2020 or Ben Roethlisberger in 2021, Rodgers just looks different. Aaron is still playing at an extremely high level, arguably the best ball he has played in his whole career, potentially winning back-to-back MVP awards and posting a TD-INT ratio of 111-13 over the last three seasons.

At this rate, Rodgers has many more years of great football in front of him so I believe he doesn’t go with this option. Also, this would be the least optimal option for the Green Bay Packers because they would get nothing in return for losing one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.

Option 3: Aaron Rodgers comes back to the Green Bay Packers

This option is best for both parties. If the Green Bay Packers can find a solution to the salary cap and retain as many of this past year’s key contributors, it would be hard for Aaron to find another franchise with a better roster that could help him reach the Super Bowl again.

Also, Rodgers has talked numerous times in the past about legacy and wanting to end his career a Packer; this would make sure it happens that way. The front office has their work cut out for them if they want this to be the solution to the Rodgers drama that’s upcoming, but Coach LaFleur said in his press conference on Monday that they have a plan to get under next year’s salary cap. Never say never when it comes to the Packers.

Regardless of the decision Aaron Rodgers makes this offseason, he will leave behind him a legacy of being one of the Packers’ best players to ever play on the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field.