[brid autoplay=”true” video=”707891″ player=”23231″ title=”NFL%20rumors%205%20ideal%20Aaron%20Rodgers%20trade%20scenarios” duration=”129″ description=”NFL rumors will pick up big time over the next several weeks linking contending teams to a potential Aaron Rodgers trade after his Green Bay Packers lost in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The end of the game did not come without drama. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur made the shocking decision to kick a field goal with his team down eight points and facing a fourth-and-goal with just over two minutes remaining.Rodgers touched on that and more in meeting with the media following Sunday’s loss, leading to speculation that he could very well be traded this offseason.Green Bay’s decision to trade up for quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft could potentially expedite an Aaron Rodgers trade.Coming off a likely NFL MVP performance during the regular season, the 37-year-old quarterback would draw a ton of interest on the trade block. We look at five ideal trade scenarios.” uploaddate=”2021-01-25″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/707891_t_1611595176.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/707891.mp4″]
The Denver Broncos have been linked to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a near never-ending loop since it became public record late in April that the reigning NFL MVP wants out of dodge.
Rodgers, 37, just recently took to the media as a way to criticize the Packers’ culture in a scathing rebuke of the organization. By going public, Rodgers is playing his hand in a big way. He does not want to be back with the Packers in 2021. It’s that simple.
On the heels of Rodgers’ public comments, odds have come out relating to who he will suit up for next. In what can’t be considered too much of a surprise, the Denver Broncos head said list (via DraftKings).
- Denver Broncos: +140
- Las Vegas Raiders: +1000
- New Orleans Saints: +2000
- San Francisco 49ers: +2000
- Washington Football Team: +2000
- Carolina Panthers: +2500
- Cleveland Browns: +2500
- Miami Dolphins: +2500
- New England Patriots +2500
For the sake of clarity, the Packers are still favored (-167) to somehow retain Aaron Rodgers for the 2021 season. However, that’s becoming less likely by the day.
Does Aaron Rodgers to the Denver Broncos make sense?
From a Broncos perspective, the answer to this question is a resounding yes. Denver has not had anywhere near a capable starting quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement following the 2015 season. Drew Lock tied for the league lead in interceptions with 15 a season ago. Denver also just brought in Teddy Bridgewater to compete with him.
With Aaron Rodgers in the mix, Denver is a legitimate threat to the two-time defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs — both in the division and in the conference. Without him, Vic Fangio’s squad is a bottom-tier playoff contender.
Adding Rodgers to the mix to go with stud receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton would make Denver’s offense nearly unstoppable.
What would an Aaron Rodgers trade cost the Denver Broncos?
According to an unnamed general manager, the Packers would only consider trading Rodgers for a minimum of three first-round picks. Given his advanced age and the well-known drama between the quarterback and his organization, that seems highly unlikely.
It’s more realistic to believe that the Denver Broncos could land Rodgers for two first-round picks, either Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock and another starter-caliber player. It’s similar to what the Houston Texans were demanding for Deshaun Watson before allegations of sexual misconduct become public record.
It’s possible that Denver sweetens the pot with Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons or another high-end player to go with draft compensation. But that’s pure conjecture.
As for teams joining the Broncos in contention for Rodgers, it’s important to note that the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers were on his short list. In fact, the future first ballot Hall of Famer thought he was headed home to San Francisco on the eve of the 2021 NFL Draft. That’s now highly unlikely given that the 49ers just selected quarterback Trey Lance No. 3 overall in the annual event.
Las Vegas is intriguing in that it has three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr to offer up for Rodgers. Carr could act as a stopgap option in Green Bay until Jordan Love is ready.