For the time being, things are looking good between Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Despite a tumultuous offseason that saw the spat between the quarterback and team go public, followed by rumors of retirement, Rodgers returned to camp and has made it clear he intends to play through the 2021 season.
Whether or not Rodgers is still Green Bay’s quarterback in 2022 remains to be seen. As his predecessor has said, a lot of that will depend on how much the front office is willing to listen to Rodgers and work together with him on the franchise’s future.
One NFL team that is reportedly very happy to provide an alternative destination for Rodgers if things don’t work out is the Denver Broncos. NFL insider Ian Rapoport said on Sunday that while things are copacetic now between the Packers and Rodgers, the Broncos have made it clear they’d be interested in trade talks if and when that comes up again.
From @NFLGameDay: Things are going well for the #Packers and Aaron Rodgers. Same for the #Seahawks and QB Russell Wilson. But it's clear both situations could go either way during a crucial 2021. pic.twitter.com/MFnMvSy7dN
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2021
“Things are good now with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, going along fine,” Rapoport said on NFL GameDay Morning. “However, in this new contract that he negotiated to get back to training camp, they did agree to look at trade options after the season. I’m told that the Denver Broncos, who would have been interested this past offseason, remain interested and could try to trade for Rodgers and make a substantial offer after this season. They have not yet committed to a long-term quarterback.”
Teddy Bridgewater came in and won the starting job for the Broncos this season, supplanting last year’s starter Drew Lock. How this season goes might determine the long-term viability of either quarterback. But there’s no denying that Aaron Rodgers brings a pedigree that’s at a whole other level. Denver has done this kind of thing before, going all-in on an older Peyton Manning, in a move that paid off with two Super Bowl appearances and one championship ring. So if any NFL team knows the value of investing in an elite quarterback, it’s the Broncos.
[NFL]
