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Trading Aaron Rodgers Is About To Become Much Easier For The Green Bay Packers

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This article is more than 2 years old.

Tick, tick, tick.

Anyone paying attention to the ongoing Aaron Rodgers drama understands how important June 2 is. And that date is almost here.

If Green Bay trades Rodgers after June 1, it will save $16.05 million in salary cap space this year.

On April 29 — the opening night of the NFL Draft — word leaked that Rodgers no longer wanted to play for the Packers. Rodgers was asked on May 24 by former ESPN employee Kenny Mayne if he was demanding a trade, but the veteran quarterback dodged the question and instead criticized Green Bay’s organizational philosophy.

Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst has maintained publicly that he won't trade Rodgers. But things will become far more interesting Wednesday when Gutekunst can move Rodgers without it obliterating his 2021 salary cap.

The latest odds at DraftKings still favor Rodgers being a Packer when the 2021 season begins. But bookmakers still think there’s a strong chance Rodgers is in a different uniform.

Here’s the latest odds:

Green Bay: -167

Denver: +140

Las Vegas: +1000

Washington: +2000

New Orleans: +2000

San Francisco: +2000

Carolina: +2500

Cleveland: +2500

Miami: +2500

New England: +2500

Here’s a quick look at what some of the leading contenders might have to give up to land Rodgers:

1. DENVER

Broncos get: Aaron Rodgers, 2022 fourth-round pick

Packers get: QB Drew Lock, DE Bradley Chubb, G Dalton Risner, 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, 2024 first-round pick.

Analysis: Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer predicted this trade recently and it makes sense on many levels.

Denver, which got three brilliant years and later a Super Bowl win after acquiring Peyton Manning in 2012, takes another shot with a Hall of Fame quarterback.

Green Bay gets three first-round draft picks, a second-rounder, a Pro Bowl outside linebacker in Chubb and a high-level guard in Risner. While Lock shouldn’t be anyone’s long-term answer at quarterback, he could bridge the gap if the Packers choose to give Jordan Love another year to develop.

If Love eventually proves he can play, the draft picks, players and an already deep roster would have Green Bay set up for several more years of winning football.

2. LAS VEGAS

Raiders get: Aaron Rodgers

Packers get: QB Derek Carr, 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, 2023 second round pick

Analysis: Of all the scenarios being floated right now, this might be the most appealing to Green Bay.

Carr was recently ranked as the 13th-best quarterback in football by Pro Football Focus. That means the Packers’ No. 1 scoring offense from 2020 would almost certainly remain a top-10 outfit. It would also give 2020 first-round quarterback Jordan Love another year to develop.

Moving forward, the Packers would have two first- and two second-round picks each of the next two years. They could load up on each side of the ball while deciding if Love is their quarterback of the future or not.

The Raiders, meanwhile, need some type of jolt in their new city — something Rodgers would undoubtedly provide.

3. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

WFT gets: Aaron Rodgers

Packers get: 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, 2023 second round pick, defensive end Montez Sweat

Analysis: Sweat has 16 sacks in his first two seasons and his rookie contract would appeal to Green Bay. The draft picks here would be comparable to the above offers, as well.

The difference, of course, is Rodgers stays in the conference in this trade which the Packers certainly don't want.

4. SAN FRANCISCO

49ers get: Aaron Rodgers

Packers get: QB Trey Lance, 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick, 2023 second round pick.

Analysis: The 49ers reached out to Green Bay before the draft about trading for Rodgers, but were rebuffed. Part of that deal reportedly included the third overall pick in this year’s draft, which the 49ers eventually used on Lance.

Now, the Packers could let Jordan Love — their first round draft pick in 2020 — and Lance battle it out to see who their future quarterback will be. Green Bay would also pick up three high draft picks to add to an already strong roster.

5. NEW ORLEANS

Saints get: Aaron Rodgers

Packers get: QB Jameis Winston, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first round pick, 2024 first round pick.

Analysis: Would three first round picks and a quarterback who was the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft get it done?

Winston could start for a year, likely keep the Packers in the race for the NFC North title, and give Jordan Love an extra year to develop. The draft picks would likely come late in the first round, though, if the Saints have the type of success they’d envision.

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