The Packers lost to the Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game, which has made a good season seemingly go to waste. After the game Aaron Rodgers made comments noting the uncertainty for players on the team in the future including himself. Rodgers is likely frustrated with management for not giving him enough help and now may want to go to a new team. Here are five potential landing spots for Aaron Rodgers.
1. Green Bay Packers
The easiest resolution for Rodgers is to talk to management about what he wants. If he and management can talk about the team not spending in free agency historically and how to change that, maybe they can come to an agreement. It makes it harder that the team already drafted his successor in Jordan Love. Rodgers will likely end up in Green Bay, but there is a lot to sort out between Rodgers and management.
If Rodgers wants to win a ring, he needs to consider staying in Green Bay. With him on the roster, they will be Super Bowl contenders again. They have Davante Adams still and hopefully left tackle David Bakhtiari coming back healthy. On defense Jaire Alexander has turned into one of the best corners in the league. They’ll need to get Rodgers more help for him to stay and be happy, but they can also win.
2. San Francisco 49ers
A lot has been made about Aaron Rodgers being from California. It just so happens that the 49ers could be in the market for a quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo has failed to stay healthy and he also hasn’t cemented himself as a solid starting quarterback. If Rodgers wants to play for the 49ers, San Francisco will find a way to make it work.
With the 49ers, Rodgers would have a solid offensive line and defense to work with. He would also have Kyle Shanahan, who has devised a great running game in San Francisco. On top of that, he’d have one of the best tight ends in the game in George Kittle. Even though he hasn’t historically used tight ends, but it would be hard to not use Kittle. The 49ers would need to get him some healthy wide receivers and make some room financially to afford Rodgers, but it is possible.
3. Indianapolis Colts
If Rodgers officially requests a trade, the Packers will prefer to send him out of the conference. After Philip Rivers retired, the Colts need a new quarterback. Jacoby Brissett is also hitting free agency. Rodgers will want to play at a place that has a roster ready to win and the Colts have that waiting for him.
The Colts have one of the best defenses in the league, which helped them get to the playoffs. They also have a good offensive line and running game, which looks like it is in good hands after Jonathan Taylor surged at the end of the season. Indianapolis also has T.Y. Hilton and a developing Michael Pittman for Rodgers to throw to. The Colts need to get a new left tackle to replace Anthony Castonzo, who retired, but they can fill that need in the draft. Rodgers could take the Colts to the next level. General manager Chris Ballard has set up the Colts to be able to afford Rodgers too.
4. Los Angeles Rams
Another team that could be in the mix for one of the best quarterbacks in the league is the Rams. Jared Goff has had his ups and downs through his career, but he hasn’t been worth his contract. If the Rams can find a way to get out of Goff’s contract, they should be in the market from Rodgers. He takes the team from very good to elite really quickly.
The Rams had the number one defense in the league this year. Rodgers hasn’t had too many years with great defenses, so that would mean a lot. They also have Sean McVay as head coach, who is an offensive guru. If the Rams can get the running game together, they already have solid weapons in Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. If the Packers grant Rodgers a trade if he requests it and they want to send him off right, they can send him to the Rams. They have a ready-to-win roster and Rodgers could be enticed to live in LA. As with all contenders, they’d have to find a way to get Rodgers in and stay under the salary cap, but the Saints are a projected $112 million over the projected cap for next year, so the Rams can find a way to make it work.
5. New England Patriots
The Patriots are in desperate need of a quarterback. While Bill Belichick has said that Cam Newton wasn’t the reason the season went awry, they also aren’t likely to bring him back on the team. The Patriots will be exploring all avenues to improve the offense this offseason and if Rodgers is available they should inquire about him.
Rodgers was just defeated in the NFC Championship Game by Tom Brady, a man who was molded by Bill Belichick. While the season wasn’t great for the Patriots, Belichick will have them contending again soon. Some of their defenders who opted out will return and Julian Edelman is going to be back from injury. New England needs to get better at quarterback and wide receiver, but if they get Rodgers it puts them back in the Championship picture. They can afford his salary and won’t be afraid to give up picks to get him either.
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