Packers 2023 offseason position review: Quarterbacks

The Green Bay Packers start another offseason with uncertainty at quarterback.

Will Aaron Rodgers return or retire? Could the Packers consider trading him? In mid-January, anything seems possible for the four-time MVP.

With the offseason underway in Green Bay, we begin our position-by-position review of the roster with the quarterbacks.

2022 season review

Statistically, Rodgers’ numbers were significantly worse this season than from his recent MVP years.

Rodgers didn’t have a single 300-yard passing game for the first time since becoming the Packers’ starter in 2008. He also threw 12 interceptions — the only time he has thrown more was in 2008, his first year as a starter.

So, has Rodgers become a bad player?

Not at all. There are a lot of reasons why his numbers dropped.

Rodgers lost top target Davante Adams in the offseason and had to start over with a new receiving corps, including three rookies and a free-agent signing.

He wasn’t helped by countless mistakes, including drops. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Packers had 32 drops this season, third-most in the NFL and Green Bay’s most since 2012.

Rodgers also played most of the year with a broken thumb he suffered late in the game against the New York Giants in Week 5.

Still, Rodgers wasn’t blameless. He made plenty of mistakes, too. But it would be unfair to say he is not the player he was. He is still an excellent quarterback.

Jordan Love didn’t feature often but had a standout performance against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Love stepped in for an injured Rodgers, completing six of nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, with a passer rating of 146.8. He, too, would’ve had better numbers if not for a dropped pass.

What’s next in 2023?

Here we are, again.

It’s January, the Packers’ season is over, and Rodgers is deciding what’s next.

Return. Retire. Trade. They are the options. Due to salary cap reasons, releasing Rodgers is effectively impossible.

But the other three are all in play.

If Rodgers wants to keep playing, he could return to Green Bay. But if either he doesn’t feel the team is ready to compete in 2023 or the Packers want to move forward with Love, a trade becomes an option.

Of course, if Rodgers wants to play in Green Bay and the Packers want him back, that’s the easiest solution.

The other is if Rodgers decides to walk away. That’s also in play.

His decision will impact Love’s future. If Rodgers retires or gets traded, Love is the new QB1. But if Rodgers returns to Green Bay, will Love remain the backup? Will he request a trade?

Lots of decisions will be made in the coming weeks and months.