Aaron Rodgers has emerged from the darkness…
At least we think so.
The reality is nobody knows what’s going on inside the mind of Aaron Rodgers. People think he’s going to play another year, but who knows? He could come out of his darkness retreat and decide that he doesn’t have any more football left in him.
The more realistic option is that Rodgers wants to keep playing, but not in Green Bay. There are going to be quite a few teams that are going to want to bring in the former Super Bowl champion, but where are some possible spots for Rodgers to go?
New York Jets
The current favorite to land Aaron Rodgers is the New York Jets. We know the Jets are in the market for a veteran QB, and owner Woody Johnson is willing to open up his pocket to get one in the building. The Jets are a team that is much closer to winning than even they imagined. This can be credited to Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, and Breece Hall: the team’s most recent rookie class. The Jets hired former Packers’ offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, somebody who Aaron Rodgers has a known relationship with. This makes the Jets a very favorable location for Rodgers. Reports say that Rodgers is New York’s top option, so expect them to make a big offer for the former back-to-back MVP.Â
Las Vegas Raiders
The other team that is expected to be in on the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes is the Las Vegas Raiders. The team just moved off of Derek Carr, so there is a clear hole at the QB position for this team. At the #7 pick in this year’s draft, the Raiders could look to go after a rookie QB to restart at the position, but this is a year where the top QBs could be drafted within the first five picks. Las Vegas appeared to have wanted Tom Brady, but with Brady’s retirement, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the team turn to another veteran QB on the market. There’s a clear connection between Rodgers and star WR Davante Adams, and that could lure Rodgers to Las Vegas. However, if Rodgers is looking to be in the best position to win, the Raiders might not be as great of an option. A poor offensive line with a subpar defense will make it difficult for Rodgers. There are a few pieces there, but I can’t see the stars aligning for Aaron Rodgers as a Raider.
Tennessee Titans
Another AFC team that could see some real changes is the Tennessee Titans. I don’t love the idea of the Titans trading for Rodgers, though. If they wanted to go all-in, they would have signed A.J. Brown to the contract he wanted to stay in contention. The Titans are closer to a rebuild than winning a Super Bowl, but they’ll most certainly make calls on Rodgers. It’s unknown what the Titans plan to do with QB Ryan Tannehill this off-season, but if they choose to move off of him, there’s a chance they want to get a veteran upgrade. From what we saw of Malik Willis, it doesn’t seem like he’s ready to be a franchise QB. Tennessee is in a strange gray area, but if they choose to go with a veteran, Aaron Rodgers could be an option.
Washington Commanders
This is more of a wild card option. Rodgers makes sense for Washington. They have a really talented roster that could have been a threat in the playoffs with the right QB under center. Pairing Rodgers with Ron Riviera could make for a successful veteran duo. Having weapons like Jahan Dotson, Terry McLaurin, and Curtis Samuel make the Commanders a solid landing spot for any QB. Additionally, with Owner Dan Snyder possibly selling the team, any new ownership might look to make a splash right away. The main issue with this scenario is logistics. Chances are the Packers won’t trade Rodgers within the NFC; however, if Washington makes a strong enough offer, maybe they could land the former back-to-back MVP. Reports have said that Washington plans to roll with Sam Howell as QB1, but there’s no reason why Howell can’t sit behind a veteran mentor like Rodgers for a year or two. Acquiring Rodgers and making some upgrades on the offensive line could make for an offense that Washington has been missing for quite some time.
