5 players the Green Bay Packers held on to for too long

1. Aaron Rodgers

The Packers ended up with a good deal in the Aaron Rodgers trade, but it could've been so much better had they made the move a year or two earlier.

Last year, Rodgers was coming off back-to-back MVP seasons. It was the perfect time to trade him.

Instead, the Packers signed him to a huge new deal and then traded away his star wide receiver. The offense was destined to regress in 2022, which it did dramatically. And that included Rodgers' play.

In 2021, Rodgers threw for 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Last season, his numbers dropped to 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Injuries played a part, as did having to trust three rookie receivers. But Rodgers also didn't play anywhere near his MVP best for large parts of the season.

Last year, the Denver Broncos sent two first-round picks, two second-round picks, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive tackle Shelby Harris, and tight end Noah Fant to the Seattle Seahawks for Russell Wilson.

It's easy to imagine a scenario in which the Packers could've landed a similar deal from Denver.

Instead, they had to settle for a good deal with the New York Jets this offseason. They could've landed so much more a year earlier and also would've had additional time to evaluate Jordan Love before making a contract decision.

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