GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 22: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers gestures as he exits the field after losing the NFC Divisional Playoff game to the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on January 22, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The NFC Divisional Round ended with the top-seeded Packers shocked as the 49ers left Lambeau Field victorious. A few hours later, the Packers’ 13-4 regular-season was a distant memory. Attention immediately turned to the future of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The 38-year-old Rodgers is likely weeks away from winning his fourth MVP trophy after producing a 68.9 percent completion rate, 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions in 16 games. Without question, Rodgers is still an elite playmaker despite his advancing age. If he decides to play in 2022, he’s more than hinted towards ending his career somewhere other than Green Bay after the franchise has repeatedly failed to participate in the arm’s race of compiling offensive talent.
The league’s cap space is expected to rise significantly after bouncing back from the Covid-related drop in 2021. If Rodgers were to depart Green Bay, there’s a clear list of five teams that have the mixture of cap space, ability to compete right away, and trade assets to get the deal done. The Packers’ legend would surely have input on his next destination, and would prioritize a deep playmaking corps to excel with.
Broncos
The cleanest fit for Rodgers is in Denver since they’re so clearly just needing a quarterback before becoming a Super Bowl contender. No team has the level of offensive artillery available to offer a veteran quarterback as the Broncos do. Denver is set up for long-term success since the only offensive playmakers over the age of 26 are Melvin Gordon and Tim Patrick (both 28).
Adding another interesting wrinkle was news Thursday that the Broncos will hire Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Denver, flush with almost $42 million in cap space, will be an attractive destination for veterans on both sides of the ball.
The way vets followed Tom Brady to Tampa Bay, a similar situation could happen in Denver. Offensive line depth and another pass rusher would give the Broncos arguably the best team in the NFL with Rodgers pulling the strings. Their lack of major needs is also partially the reason they could justify paying the boatload of draft picks it’ll cost to acquire Rodgers. Expectations are for Denver to push the Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers in the loaded AFC West.
Steelers
A sleeper team to acquire any veteran quarterback are the Steelers. It might not be their style to take part in a blockbuster deal, but the Steelers can quickly get more than $70 million in cap space with restructures. Considering the uncertain 2022 rookie class and the Steelers’ apparent inability to finish with a .500-record or worse, the blueblood franchise should get aggressive.
Rodgers would quickly make fans forget the waning years of Ben Roethlisberger. His downfield passing ability and mobility would give offensive coordinator Matt Canada freedom to unleash his creative offense. Roethlisberger stymied a solid schematic attack, whereas Rodgers will unlock it.
Pittsburgh has to revamp the offensive line regardless of who is playing quarterback, and losing draft picks would complicate that task. But it’s reasonable to believe between a deep free agent class and a draft class full of trench talent, the Steelers can fill their holes at left tackle and left guard. This can quickly become a Super Bowl contender thanks to a great young playmaker trio of Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, and Pat Freiermuth complimenting a solid defense.
Browns
Cleveland is absolutely in the market to upgrade their quarterback position after another dreadful season from Baker Mayfield. Even giving Mayfield the benefit of the doubt regarding his various injuries, the Browns’ front office must do due diligence for an upgrade after building a deeply skilled roster. Their biggest weakness is the quarterback position.
The Browns’ pitch to Rodgers would revolve around an elite offensive line and pair of running backs to compliment a rising defense. After trading Mayfield, acquiring Rodgers, and making reasonable cuts, the Browns would still have about $30 million to find two starting caliber receivers. This can quickly become one of the most feared offenses in a loaded AFC.
The time is now for Cleveland after waiting so long to be relevant. The staff has a lot on the line in 2022, and could be on the hot seat if next season is a repeat of a frustrating 2021. Acquiring Rodgers all but guarantees the Browns would be a deep playoff threat, if not more.
Buccaneers
If Tom Brady were to retire, the Buccaneers are better equipped than almost any team to be aggressive in shopping for a replacement. They can create almost $70 million in cap space in the blink of an eye. There’s enough room to re-sign a few key free agents from Ryan Jensen, Carlton Davis, Chris Godwin, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Alex Cappa, and acquire Rodgers.
The allure of playing for head coach Bruce Arians and a cast of proven stars is clear for Rodgers. The Packers were able to stay competitive through effective drafting and a few free agent signings, but it had to infuriate Rodgers to see Brady surrounded by a who’s-who cast. The same mindset in Green Bay may have led to another Super Bowl victory.
The Buccaneers can mortgage their next few first-round picks in order to stay at the top of the NFC. The hiccup may come on Green Bay’s side, as they may want to keep him out of the NFC in coming years. But the Buccaneers offer a rare opportunity to play in great weather, the easy NFC South, and avoid the AFC’s top competition.
Dolphins
Another Florida team that could get involved is Miami. Like Denver, they’re searching for their next head coach. Miami has shown commitment to Tua Tagovailoa publicly, but are in the same boat as Cleveland as far as they’d upgrade for the right quarterback.
Miami has the most needs on this list, but also the most cap space. They could get up to $100 million in cap room if they wanted, and could devote the vast majority of that money to the offense. Rodgers would surely need a revamped offensive line and more receiving threats before committing.
The Dolphins could make that happen with relative ease with a free agency and draft splurge on the offensive unit. The AFC East is loaded, but the right coach could play a similar style to what Rodgers was running in Green Bay. Miami’s defense is ready to compete at a high-level, and the offense can be customized around Rodgers’ skill set.