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Aaron Rodgers is returning to the Green Bay Packers for the 2021 NFL season. It’s the best-case scenario for everyone involved, but it’s evident this might be his Last Dance in Green Bay. With more control over his future, Rodgers will likely be playing elsewhere in 2022.
Don’t expect Rodgers to be one of the top NFL free agents in 2022. Instead, with Jordan Love ready to take over as the starter, Green Bay will likely trade the face of its franchise to build around its young signal-caller.
With that in mind, let’s examine the best landing spots for Aaron Rodgers next year.
Washington Football Team
When Rodgers surfaced in NFL trade rumors, the Washington Football Team largely stayed out of the mix for consideration. Ryan Fitzpatrick will be WFT’s starting quarterback in 2021 and expectations are high with the team rising in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings. But the WFT is an elite quarterback away from Super Bowl contention.
Everything else is in place for Washington. Antonio Gibson is an breakout candidate this year, Terry McLaurin is a No. 1 receiver, Curtis Samuel makes plays and Logan Thomas is one of the most underrated tight ends in the NFL. On top of that, Washington boasts a defensive unit that ranks No. 2 in our NFL defense rankings.
- Aaron Rodgers stats (2021): 4,299 passing yards, 48 passing touchdowns, 121.5 passer rating, 70.7% completion rate
Rodgers can run this offense, with the help of innovative offensive coordinator Scott Turner. While it might not be quite as explosive as Green Bay’s unit, a top-10 offense and a top-5 defense with an MVP quarterback can win a Super Bowl.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints will try to make things work in 2021 with Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Assuming that fails, which is the likeliest outcome, head coach Sean Payton will look to do everything in his power to upgrade at quarterback. Rodgers fits the bell perfectly.
Payton is one of the brightest coaches in the NFL. He played an instrumental role in an aging Drew Brees still looked good and this offensive scheme helped backups like Hill and Teddy Bridgwater shine. Rodgers wants an offensive-minded coach who will both challenge him intellectually and give him some play-calling freedom, that can be found in New Orleans.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are the perfect landing spot for Aaron Rodgers. One important factor, NFL rumors made it clear he wanted to be traded here. It’s an understandable desire, given the circumstances in Denver. The Broncos have an elite defense, are happy to give their star quarterback a voice in personnel decisions and the supporting cast on offense is exceptional.
- Aaron Rodgers career stats: 51,245 passing yards, 412 passing touchdowns, 103.9 passer rating, 65.1% completion rate
Frankly, this might be Green Bay’s preferred scenario if things don’t work out after this year. Denver will likely have a top-12 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, higher than other teams on this list. With top picks and young talent, the Broncos can piece together a quality trade offer.
Upon his arrival, even with a few pieces moved out, Rodgers can help the Broncos compete for the Super Bowl. Better yet, Denver might have a better offensive coordinator than Pat Shurmur in 2022. We’d consider the Broncos as the favorites to land Rodgers.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are committed to Tua Tagovailoa for now. But this franchise also knows it can’t waste years of a potential window to compete and if the former No. 5 pick doesn’t make a huge step forward in his second NFL season, Miami will pursue every avenue to upgrade at the most important position in sports.
Assuming Xavien Howard is traded, the Dolphins will have even more assets to offer Green Bay. Draft picks are key, given they would help Miami keep its talented roster together. While there isn’t as much talent offensively on this squad, Rodgers throwing to weapons like Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki and Preston Williams is exciting.
Plus, as Rodgers mentioned during his press conference, recruiting talent would be easy. An opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl with a future Hall of Fame quarterback paired with living in Miami, there aren’t many better pitches than that.