It goes to show you just never know what’s going to happen in the National Football League. On the verge of the opening of the 2021 NFL Draft, numerous reports from the league’s most well-known reporters are all breaking angles of the core news story that future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers is frustrated with the Green Bay Packers and wants a trade. The latest rumors also have him potentially landing in the AFC West.
Reports began to emerge from Adam Schefter, Jay Glazer and others on Thursday that Rodgers wanted out of Green Bay. This came on the heels of rumors that the San Francisco 49ers had checked in on sending the No. 3 overall pick and other assets in exchange for Rodgers earlier this week—a deal which the Packers declined The latest rumors had the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders as “favorites“, per Pro Football Talk.
From unimpeachable source: As of last night, Aaron Rodgers’ wish list was 49ers, Broncos, Raiders (not necessarily in that order). He wanted Packers to take the 49ers’ offer. Next move by Rodgers is TBD.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 29, 2021
Rodgers has faced questions about his future in Green Bay ever since the Packers surprised everyone last year in the draft by taking quarterback Jordan Love at the bottom of the first round. The Packers insisted that they wanted Rodgers to remain the starter for the foreseeable future, not only last year at this time but even as recently as this month, but it looks as if a rift is forming which could lead to a deal.
Will Aaron Rodgers join the AFC West?
The uncertainty of Rodgers’ future didn’t alter his on-field production at all in 2020 given the fact that he beat out K.C. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the MVP trophy. Going forward, any team in the AFC West would become a much more significant threat to the Chiefs if Rodgers was under center. While the Chiefs would remain the prohibitive favorites to win their sixth straight AFC West title, there’s no doubt that Rodgers would elevate either the Raiders or Broncos playoff hopes considerably. Plus it would mean Rodgers and Mahomes would face off twice this year and any season moving forward.
The Denver Broncos would likely have any edge on a move here considering their best draft asset sits in the top 10 at No. 9 overall compared to the Raiders at No. 17. It should also be said that the Broncos could also dangle other young talent like Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy to provide another young impact talent on offense along with other draft considerations.
That said, a rift in April doesn’t mean it can’t be repaired by August and it’s hard to see a deal of this magnitude being executed so quickly. But as we’ve seen in the NFL, nothing is sacred and even legendary quarterbacks can change teams in their twilight years and still find success. Tom Brady just did it last year, and the Chiefs saw the same with Joe Montana. It’s apparently possible that the AFC West could get a lot more interesting in the next few hours or days.