The Green Bay Packers have been one of the most successful franchises in the National Football League over the past three decades, and much of that success can be attributed to their legendary quarterbacks, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers.
However, after several months of speculation, rumors, a darkness retreat, and bad cell reception, the Packers traded Rodgers to the New York Jets for a 2023 2nd round pick, a 2023 first-round pick swap, and a 2024 first-round pick should he play 65% of snaps for his new team.
While this news may disappoint some Packers fans, it’s worth considering that, given the state of the roster and the current salary cap situation, the team may have found itself in a win-win scenario because of the off-season trading of Rodgers to the Jets.
I’ll explain.
A Chance to Evaluate Former First-Round Pick, Jordan Love
The first and most obvious reason the Green Packers will benefit from trading Aaron Rodgers to the Jets is that it would give them a chance to evaluate their young quarterback, Jordan Love.
Love was the team’s first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he has immense upside but is an unknown, only appearing in 10 games during his NFL career. This move finally paved the way for the former Utah State product to step into the starting role and prove himself as the team’s franchise quarterback.
“We’re excited about him. I think I’ve expressed to a lot of people that he needs to play. That’s the next step in his progression. He needs to play,” Gutekunst told reporters at the NFL scouting combine. “Jordan’s done a great job working hard, so he’s doing everything we’re asking.”
If the 6-foot-4 signal caller hits the ground running, he’ll parlay his short-term extension into a long-term deal with the Packers and cement himself as a foundational piece the front office can build their team around.
But if he doesn’t…
What if the Green Bay Packers Were Wrong in Their Evaluation at QB?
On the other hand, if Love struggles or fails to live up to expectations during his two-year audition as a starter, the Green Bay Packers would still be in a good position, IMO.
Although the time invested in Love would have been a miss, the Packers could find themselves selecting early in the draft. Even if they were outside the top 10, the front office could pair that selection with the extra draft capital obtained from the Jets to move up and take one of the top talents at the position, such as USCs Caleb Williams or UNCs Drake Maye.
While this option’s outcome is less than ideal, it still allows the front office to evaluate Love accurately and fairly before deciding to pull the plug and try again.
In this scenario, the Packers would be well-positioned to take a high-end prospect while having a lot of cap space available to add complimentary pieces around them, considering Aaron Rodgers $40.3 million in dead money will be off the books heading into 2024.
Final Thoughts
Trading Aaron Rodgers was a gamble, but the relationship between him and the front office was beyond repair, and it was a decision to prolong the franchise’s success.
GM Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur can run their offense as envisioned with the player they hand-picked to lead the Packers. After this season, the cap situation will be in a much better place (25% of the cap is being spent on players no longer with the franchise), and they added valuable draft capital to try and revamp an offense in desperate need of playmakers.
If Jordan Love were to succeed, the Green Bay Packers front office would look like geniuses and could continue their winning ways without missing a beat. And if he were to struggle, the team would still have a path forward to select a QB early in the draft to rebuild and compete in the future.
Ultimately, the Packers are in a win-win scenario because they traded Aaron Rodgers to the Jets–it was best for both parties.
Loyalty and Pragmatism: The Approach of Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst to Draft Picks
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