The Green Bay Packers would prefer to trade quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason and “move on,” ESPN reported Sunday.
The report, citing league sources, also says the 39-year-old four-time MVP is well aware of the Packers’ feelings about the situation.
Financial reasons are said to be the major impetus behind a potential trade, with Green Bay projected to be $16 million over next season’s salary cap. Rodgers is due $59.5 million in guaranteed money in 2023 and $49.25 million in 2024.
Rodgers said this past week on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he is “open to all honest and direct conversations” with the Packers. He said a trade “wouldn’t offend me, and it wouldn’t make me feel like a victim.”
Rodgers also said it was all “conjecture” as he is still deciding whether to come back for a 19th NFL season.
“All the other ideas about (a) trade and whatnot, that’s all conjecture until I decide what I want to do moving forward for myself,” Rodgers said.
“To think of being in another uniform never really crossed my mind. … I’ve just never thought that way,” he added. “I’ve got to figure out what I want to do and then we’ll see where all the parties are at and what kind of transpires after that.”
NBC Sports insider Peter King said the Packers would want at least two first-round picks for Rodgers. As for which teams might pay such a price, King offered up the New York Jets.
Rodgers was the NFL’s MVP in both 2020 and 2021, but he endured one of the worst seasons of his career in 2022. He completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns while tossing 12 interceptions.
–Field Level Media