Why The Green Bay Packers Should Look To Move Aaron Rodgers In 2023

The Green Bay Packers should look to move Aaron Rodgers in the 2023 offseason.

The Packers gave their fans some false hope with a late season push that saw them come within one win of clinching a playoff berth. After starting out the season 4-8, Green Bay ran off four straight wins with an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season with a simple win over the Detroit Lions in the season finale.

Except they couldn’t finish the job.

Highlighted by a Rodgers interception in the fourth quarter, the four-time MVP was outplayed by Detroit Lions QB and Los Angeles Rams castoff Jared Goff at home. It marked the fourth straight season where Rodgers was outplayed by an opposing quarterback in an elimination game at Lambeau Field.

In what has become an annual tradition, the 39-year-old quarterback once again left the door open on possible retirement following the season-ending loss.

“It’s a feeling,” Rodgers said of what it’ll come down to regarding his future. “Do I feel like I have anything left to prove to myself? Do I want to go back and gear up for another grind? Or is it time? Is it time to step away? Is it time for another voice to be leading this team?”

Rodgers’ performance across the board declined this season in his first year without Davante Adams. The 18-year veteran posted his lowest career passer rating (91.1) and threw his most interceptions (12) since his first year as a starter in 2008. Furthermore, his 26 touchdown passes were a decline of 11 touchdowns from last season.

In his defense, he did develop a better rapport with young receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs as the season came to a close — but it was still too little, too late.

Rodgers is due to earn a pretty penny in the coming seasons, with a $59.5 million payday coming his way if he decides to return for the 2023 season.

While Rodgers is leaving the door open on retirement — again — it’s hard to envision the veteran quarterback walking away from so much money. The more likely scenario sees Rodgers eventually deciding to make his return.

However, we don’t know when that decision will come. As Pat McAfee pointed out during his radio show on Tuesday, Rodgers met with Packers brass on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss his future.

If this sounds eerily familiar to what the Packers went through with Brett Favre 15 years prior, it’s because it is. And just like Green Bay eventually moved on from Favre following his decision to come out of retirement by trading him to the New York Jets, so should the Packers — especially while Rodgers is still one of the better quarterbacks in the league.

Rodgers’ average annual value for the remainder of his contract is over $50 million per year, which is the top mark in the league. It also just so happens that of the top 10 highest paid players on an annual basis, Rodgers is the oldest player on the list by far. He’s five years older than the next-oldest player, 34-year-old Russell Wilson.

It also helps the Packers’ cause that there will be a high demand for quarterbacks this offseason, with teams such as the Washington Commanders, New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders already in the market for a new starting quarterback. Teams such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots could soon join that list.

When factoring in his age, decline in performance, bloated salary cap hit and the demand for a franchise quarterback from a number of teams this offseason, the Packers should capitalize by moving Rodgers while they still can. They could acquire a boatload of draft picks and assets by moving the reigning MVP.

The only reason why Green Bay would hesitate on trading Rodgers is for salary cap purposes. Joel Corry of CBS Sports explains why a Rodgers trade is beneficial if it occurs after June 2, which is long after teams usually make trades for quarterbacks. Green Bay would be liable for a $40,313,570 dead cap hit if they trade Rodgers.

“The extra time might not matter salary cap wise because most trades for a veteran starting quarterback take place before the NFL Draft, which is April 27 through April 29,” said Corry. “The acquiring team usually wants the quarterback to have as long as possible during the offseason to get comfortable with his new offense. Under this scenario, all of the dead money would be a 2023 cap charge because the trade would be occurring before June 2. Only by delaying a trade until June 2 at the earliest would the Packers get to split the dead money over 2023 and 2024 like with retirement.”

If the Packers do decide to bring Rodgers back without even entertaining the idea of moving him, they’re destined for the same result next season — a quick playoff exit at best and more uncertainty regarding whether or not Rodgers is all-in for the following season.

Since advancing to the NFC Championship Game in back-to-back years during Matt LaFleur’s first two seasons, the Packers have regressed. They were eliminated in the divisional round last season and they were eliminated before the playoffs even started this year. All of those season-deciding games came at home.

Green Bay has hit their ceiling with Rodgers at quarterback. Each passing offseason becomes more of a spectacle as we await whether or not Rodgers is all-in on the upcoming season. His refusal to partake in offseason activities last year in the aftermath of Adams’ departure played a key role in his lack of chemistry with his young wideouts early on in the 2022 season.

Jordan Love is waiting in the wings. While we don’t know whether or not he’s a true franchise quarterback, he has shown glimpses of potential during his brief appearances. That includes a 113-yard, one-touchdown performance while nearly leading the Packers to a comeback victory over the NFC-best Philadelphia Eagles back in November.

Green Bay spent a first-round draft pick on Love in 2020 and he’s on the verge of entering his fourth season. Without picking up his option year, Love would be entering the final year of his rookie deal this year.

It’s time for the Packers to find out what they have in Love. More importantly, it’s time for them to move on from Rodgers while they still can.