5 players the Packers were right to move on from in 2023

1. Aaron Rodgers

The time to move on from Aaron Rodgers was a year ago following the Packers' heartbreaking playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. With all of the Packers' salary cap problems, that felt like the end of an era.

It's hard to blame Gutekunst and the Packers for wanting to stick with their star quarterback for another year, especially coming off back-to-back MVP seasons. And it made even more sense if the Packers didn't believe Jordan Love was ready to start in 2022.

But after a disappointing 8-9 season, this was the time. The Packers' salary cap issues are still there, and running it back with Rodgers would only have increased the problem.

Rodgers decided to keep playing, and he gets a tremendous opportunity in New York, joining a roster ready to win now. The Packers received premium draft capital, and after eating a $40 million cap hit this season, they get Rodgers' huge contract off the books in 2024. That's significant.

Going their separate ways made sense for both Rodgers and the Packers. Green Bay moves forward with its first-round quarterback and focuses on rebuilding, while Rodgers finishes his career in New York with a great opportunity to win his second Super Bowl.