Jets, Raiders, Titans Among Logical Suitors for Aaron Rodgers
Analysis 2/9/23
The Green Bay Packers could favor going younger next season with running back AJ Dillon, wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, and, of course, quarterback Jordan Love waiting as their future offensive core.
Veterans Randall Cobb, Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan, Allen Lazard and Mason Crosby – a quintet that will be an average age of 34 when the 2023 season kicks off – are impending free agents, as well as close friends with 39-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who is still contemplating retirement.
"I understand they might want to move on and go younger at a number of different positions," Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show earlier in the week.
Currently $16 million over the salary cap, the Packers also could move on from running back Aaron Jones, who has a $20 million cap hit for next season. They would save $10.4 million by cutting him or $16 million if he's designated a post-June 1 cut. Green Bay also will have to decide in early May on Jordan Love’s fifth-year option that’s worth a fully guaranteed $20,272,000 in 2024.
"They drafted my replacement, and if I didn't win two Covid-MVPs this conversation probably would've happened earlier,” Rodgers said. “But in a year I'm not going to win MVP, it allows all the different conjectures of if Jordan is ready and if it's time to move on.
“The Packers have had this interesting view on personnel that it's better to move on from a guy a year before he's done than a year after."
Contract situation
Rodgers, who is guaranteed nearly $60 million next season as long as he doesn't retire, signed a very complex contract in the 2022 offseason.
Of the $59.5 million that he is owed, $58.3 million was structured as an option bonus. The window to exercise the option is the first day of the new league year on March 15 until a day before Green Bay's first regular-season game in September.
Usually option triggers are set for early in the offseason (Derek Carr, for example, has his three days after this year’s Super Bowl). By purposely putting the deadline before the start of the season, both sides will have more than enough time to find a trade partner.
Once the option is exercised, Rodgers’ cap number for 2023 would be just $31,623,570. The smaller, more palatable cap number while Rodgers is playing was purposely baked into the contract.
Potential suitors
Here are three potential suitors:
New York Jets
Jets owner Woody Johnson has stated he'd be willing to spend big money for a veteran quarterback this offseason, calling the position "the missing piece" for his defensive-oriented team.
Johnson also admitted the Jets failed in developing Zach Wilson, but still believe in him. Wilson grew up idolizing Rodgers, and began studying him at 13 years old. Rodgers and Wilson have gotten to know each other over the past few years and adding Rodgers would be one way to keep Wilson around and hope he develops.
The Jets also hired former Denver Broncos head coach and Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to be their offensive coordinator. Rodgers has a very close connection to Hackett, and even said in 2020: “I love him. Hope he doesn’t go anywhere — unless I do.”
Tennessee Titans
Incumbent Ryan Tannehill has no guaranteed money left on his contract, making it easier for Tennessee to move on if it wants to. Rodgers also is building a home in Nashville. There’s a couple of dots there to connect.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders will be looking for a new quarterback once they move on from Carr. Former Packers receiver Davante Adams was traded to Las Vegas last year, and bringing in Rodgers would reunite the two.
The Packers have coveted tight end Darren Waller in the past, and he could be a potential trade chip.
"I'm open to all honest and direct conversations," Rodgers said. "If they feel like it's the best interest of the team, so be it. That wouldn't offend me."