The Guardian
Where will Aaron Rodgers play in 2021? Here are six potential landing spots
Does the three-time NFL MVP actually need out of Inexperienced Bay? Does he wish to host a TV present? Is he simply sulking? Aaron Rodgers was voted NFL MVP by the Related Press for the 2011, 2014 and 2020 seasons. {Photograph}: Jeffrey Phelps/AP So, the place is Aaron Rodgers going to play this season? Does he actually need out of Inexperienced Bay? Does he wish to host a TV present? Is he simply sulking? Is he prepared to sink into the mud with a view to drive by way of a transfer if that’s what it requires? Each single non-Chiefs group within the league ought to decide up the telephone to attempt to determine the solutions. Not often, if ever, is a franchise quarterback out there of their prime out there through a commerce – a reigning league MVP has by no means been traded. Rodgers could also be 37 yr 0ld, however he nonetheless has at the least 4 to 5 extra years of high-level play in his legs. It’s value remembering: Tom Brady has began as many Tremendous Bowls since turning 37 (5) as some other quarterback has all-time. Given his excellence from the pocket, Rodgers’ recreation ought to age simply as gracefully. Nonetheless: We are able to whittle down the record fairly rapidly. Realistically, these groups who already really feel like they’ve a younger, future franchise-caliber quarterback is not going to decide up the telephone. Neither will the groups who’ve just lately been rebuffed and so moved on to new targets within the draft (the 49ers, the Patriots). The Colts are out of it after making a transfer for Carson Wentz in the beginning of the offseason; the identical goes for the Lions and the Rams. And you may rule out any group that already has an ageing quarterback whose absorbing a giant chunk of that group’s wage cap (Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, et al). That leaves us with six potential touchdown spots – with apologies to the Giants, who ought to make the decision however received’t. Denver Broncos The rumors of a Rodgers-to-Denver deal have bubbled alongside for the reason that opening night time of the draft. It is sensible. The Broncos are going nowhere with Drew Lock and his league-leading interception whole; Teddy Bridgewater will function a reliable bridge piece to whoever the Broncos have a look at subsequent, however he isn’t the long-term reply. Who the Broncos flip to within the medium to long-term is much more urgent given the state of their division. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs aren’t going wherever for the subsequent decade-plus. Ditto for Justin Herbert and the Chargers. With a purpose to sustain, the Broncos have to take a giant swing. They have been unable or unwilling to maneuver up within the draft to land one in every of this yr’s prime quarterback prospects, which leaves them with three prospects: A, experience this season out and hope they will land a prime quarterback prospect in subsequent yr’s draft; B, muddle together with Bridgewater in a state of quarterback purgatory; C, attempt to commerce for an improve. There isn’t a value that the Broncos must be unwilling to pay. Need a few first-rounders? Certain. Need us to tack a second-round decide on? After all. Oh, you need Bradley Chubb, too? He’ll meet you on the airport. Las Vegas Raiders Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock, the Raiders brain-trust, discover themselves in an identical place to Denver: the spine of a playoff group is there, however they’re missing the spark at quarterback that may assist shut the hole to Kansas Metropolis (and assist cowl up a few of their questionable personnel decisions). Gruden is famously impatient, and he has lengthy been the type of vocal, strident advocate for all issues Rodgers-ness that the quarterback seems to covet; the coach would definitely acquiesce to the quarterback’s needs together with his offensive scheme– Gruden, for all his bluster, is as malleable as any coach within the league in adjusting his offense to the talents of his quarterback. The Raiders have the picks and younger expertise wanted to make a giant supply. And if shifting again to the West Coast is any a part of Rodgers’ calculation, the Raiders characterize his greatest alternative. Carolina Panthers The Panthers are hovering. Proprietor David Tepper has been trying to make a giant splash at quarterback ever since he bought the group. Carolina sniffed round Deshaun Watson earlier than his authorized troubles surfaced they usually have been first in line to investigate about Russell Wilson when the quarterback’s bitter relationship with the Seattle hierarchy got here to gentle. Bringing in Sam Darnold whereas concurrently paying Teddy Bridgewater to go away was a sensible gamble. Perhaps there’s one thing there within the former first-round decide. Perhaps he was a sufferer or circumstances and poor teaching in New York. Perhaps not. Perhaps he stinks. However the Panthers are completely satisfied to wager on the potential of one thing, something, reasonably than treading water with a identified commodity like Bridgewater. However simply because Carolina solely just lately added Darnold does imply that they’re wedded to him for any size of time. If Rodgers is on the market and , the Panthers can be on the entrance of the queue making their case – they may even embrace Darnold in such a deal if the Packers needed to purchase Jordan Love extra time or needed to flip him themselves for further property. Miami Dolphins In two quick years, Chris Grier and Brian Flores, the pinnacle honchos in Miami, have orchestrated the mannequin rebuild. They loaded up on draft picks, constructed to particular scheme necessities in free company reasonably than chasing names, took longshots on some high-upside gamers, drafted their quarterback of the longer term as soon as the suitable items have been in place, introduced that quarterback alongside slowly. The roster has proven full buy-in. The group has developed a bunch of gamers from so-so prospects or bit-part items into the inspiration of a facet that has actual division-title aspirations this coming season. Miami may proceed on that ordinary evolutionary line. They may proceed to take issues linear: they will clarify away Tua Tagovailoa’s early struggles because the pure problems with any rookie quarterback; they may give him time to develop; they will proceed to construct round Tagovailoa, slowly and methodically. Or they may attempt to microwave success proper now; they may use a few of their remaining property from the rebuilding days and take a run at a deal for Rodgers. Regardless of how sensible or calculated a group’s long-term plan is, it means little for a coach or GM if their hand-picked quarterback turns the ball over on third down. It’s short-sighted, nevertheless it’s the best way the league works. Would the Dolphins hierarchy reasonably wager on the subsequent six years (maybe extra) of Tagovailoa or the subsequent three years (maybe extra) of Rodgers, notably in a division that’s in a state of some flux? New Orleans Saints For the primary time in a very long time, the Saints are available in the market for a quarterback. Sean Payton has the type of quarterback-friendly, it’s-more-of-a-partnership-than-coaching popularity that would lure Rodgers to the NFC South. The Saints have unhealthy large trades earlier than and are completely satisfied to be ruthless in pursuit of upgrading their roster: they are going to transfer on fan favourites, will dangle out superstars in trades, will finagle the wage cap with a view to squeeze out an additional couple of {dollars} with a view to add one other participant now to win in the present day not caring concerning the future. Briefly, all the issues that Rodgers has points with in Inexperienced Bay. At some point, the Saints should pay for all the wage cap sins of the back-end of the Drew Brees period, however there’s sufficient flexibility within the new collective Bargaining Settlement for the group to kick that may down the street for one more two years, opening up sufficient of a window that would tempt Rodgers to make the transfer. Inexperienced Bay Packers The Packers don’t wish to commerce Rodgers. If something, it will be preferable from the Packers’ perspective for Rodgers to retire than to maneuver to a different group, regardless of the quantity of compensation that might come again in trade, which signifies that the quarterback goes to wish to make a stink – publicly or privately – with a view to get out of Inexperienced Bay. That gives three fascinating questions that Rodgers should reply earlier than he hits the last word I-want-out button (to this point, all Rodgers-wants-out chatter has come through leaks, not his personal mouth): Does he wish to go away to enhance his possibilities to win a Tremendous Bowl some place else? Does he wish to go away as a result of he feels guarantees have been damaged by these above him and he can not proceed to work with the group? Does he actually simply wish to transfer as a result of he’s bored with Wisconsin and desires to maneuver again to the West Coast the place he may doubtlessly host Jeopardy!? It’s arduous to argue that wherever he may land could be a demonstrable improve over the roster in Inexperienced Bay. The Packers went to the NFC championship recreation final yr, their cap sheet is wholesome, they usually have the property so as to add some instant assist if Rodgers commits to staying and lays out his personal timeline. Rodgers may flip any franchise right into a reputable contender, such is his excellence and particular person fashion, nevertheless it’s arduous to make the argument that his Tremendous Bowl odds could be improved by shifting elsewhere. Jeopardy! Lurking over every thing is the concept Rodgers may retire to be the full-time host of Jeopardy!. The present’s show-runner has acknowledged publicly that they’re searching for a bunch that may commit their full-time to the present reasonably than viewing it as a facet hustle alongside their foremost function. Being an NFL quarterback would appear to disqualify Rodgers from competition. Rodgers doesn’t suppose so. “They movie 46 days a yr. I labored 187 this yr in Inexperienced Bay. That offers me 178 days to do Jeopardy!. So I really feel like I may match 46 into that 178 and make it work,” Rodgers instructed The Ringer. “It could be a dream job for positive, and I’m not shy in any respect about saying I need the job.” Rodgers needs Jeopardy! however does Jeopardy! need Rodgers? Rodgers did an excellent job as a recreation present host… for an expert quarterback. However among the buzz surrounding his efficiency feels overblown. It’s much like Blake Griffin’s rendezvous with stand-up comedy. Athletes are usually graded in such issues on a curve, the commentariat writ massive grateful to any athlete for displaying a modicum of character past a barrage of cliches. And so the reward pours in. He’s hilarious! He was wonderful! Griffin wasn’t giving Dave Chappelle any sleepless nights. And whereas Jeopardy! might be having fun with the bump of being within the Aaron Rodgers enterprise, are they prepared to show a media juggernaut over to a rookie forward of a TV skilled? And if Jeopardy! demanded the host work full-time, would Rodgers be prepared to retire in his prime, a yr after successful the league’s MVP award, with a view to host a recreation present? He would possibly. All people’s priorities are completely different. However that might doubtlessly put him on the hook for $31 million if the Packers appeared to recuperate his signing bonus.
