Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' relationship seems all but un-mendable, and I'm not talking about his past breakup with Danica Patrick or the endless drama with his family. All signs point to the superstar NFL quarterback splitting up with his team this offseason.
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Reports have swirled A-Rod doesn't want to return to Wisconsin and that he wants Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst fired after the team drafted quarterback Jordan Love last year and a cornerback in 2021 (Green Bay has drafted zero offensive players in the first round since 2012).
The he-said-she-said back-and-forth has boiled over and even Brett Favre and Terry Bradshaw have chimed in. Naturally, any GM with a pulse has inquired about Rodgers. The San Francisco 49ers called before draft night and the Los Angeles Rams asked before trading for Matthew Stafford, but the Packers say they don't plan on trading the 2020 NFL MVP.
What will it take to win the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes? Let's just say teams should expect to surrender multiple first-round picks and at least a proven starter. Don't expect anything major to happen before June 1 due to salary cap purposes.
Without further ado, let's dissect some of the trade rumors and destinations for Aaron Rodgers.
5 Aaron Rodgers Trade Destinations
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers shook hands after Favre lead the Vikings to victory at Green Bay in 2009.
(@BMPPhoto/@StribSports) pic.twitter.com/JMkAxremyE
— Vintage Minnesota (@VintageMinn) April 29, 2021
Can't you see it?
Favre spent 16 seasons in Green Bay and finished out his career with the Vikings. Rodgers has thrilled cheeseheads for 16 seasons and could do the same by donning the purple jersey.
The Packers would be stupid to trade Rodgers to their NFC North rival (same with the Chicago Bears, who drafted Justin Fields) and it probably will never happen, but what if Minnesota offers the best deal? It would probably take four or five first-rounders and a star player or two.
The Vikings have Kirk Cousins and drafted former Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. I think they'd much rather have Rodgers in the quarterback room, though.
Denver Broncos
Aaron Rodgers lookin' 🔥 in a Broncos uni!
Where would they stack in the AFC West with him?
(📸 via jerseyxswapnfl/IG) pic.twitter.com/yIShi5yycy
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) May 5, 2021
RELATED: Aaron Rodgers Quickly Found Love Again With a Hollywood Actress
Denver's quarterback situation isn't the best.
Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater are expected to fight for the starting job. Why not trade for a dude who eliminates any competition at all and instantly makes them compete with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West?
CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin threw out a couple ideas of what potential trade offers look like. One of them includes Lock, a 2022 first-rounder, a 2023 first-rounder, a 2024 first-rounder, a 2022 second-rounder and a 2023 third-rounder.
Three first-rounders, a quarterback and two more draft picks is a whole heck of a lot, but then again this is Aaron Rodgers we're talking about.
Las Vegas Raiders
If this happens then Welcome to the Raiders Aaron Rodgers 🤝 pic.twitter.com/rMhAD2mBGD
— David🏴☠️🔥🦅 (@g_real30) May 3, 2021
The King of Hail Mary was born in Chico, California. He played college football for the California Golden Bears.
If Raiders GM Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden have a chance to bring Rodgers back out west, he should absolutely pull the trigger. Shoot, sweeten the deal by bringing back Rodgers' college teammate in Marshawn Lynch.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Rodgers is interested in calling Las Vegas home. The Raiders may like Derek Carr under center but Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. It's a no-brainer.
New England Patriots
New England Patriots should do everything possible to trade for Aaron Rodgers. pic.twitter.com/6IiL40SGp4
— zengreenyoda (@zengreenyoda) May 1, 2021
PLEASE GOD DON'T LET BILL BELICHICK GET HIS HANDS ON AARON RODGERS.
I beg of you, Packers. The rest of the league begs of you. The fans beg of you.
The Patriots just drafted Mac Jones in the first round and brought back Cam Newton as a free agent. They could put together a package surrounding the former Alabama quarterback, but I highly doubt Belichick would throw away future picks just to get another quarterback he'll probably butt heads with.
What a world we would live in if this headline ever existed: "Patriots quarterback Aaron Rodgers defeats Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady in Super Bowl LVI."
San Francisco 49ers
Could we see Aaron Rodgers get traded to the 49ers? 🔥🔥🔥
Do you want to see San Francisco bring Rodgers home? #FrontOffice33 | #NFL | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/6Wp2eavZTp
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) April 29, 2021
Give the Packers Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance. Heck, give them both plus a bundle of first-rounders.
John Lynch, the 49ers GM, made it clear he's infatuated with Rodgers. So much that he called the Packers the day before this year's NFL Draft.
"You're talking about the MVP of our league last year," Lynch told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "Yeah, we inquired. It was a quick in to the conversation (but) it wasn't happening. As we said, we have been convicted and excited for a long, long time, so we went right back to where we've been and that's really excited about adding Trey Lance to the 49ers, and we're thrilled about that."
If Rodgers holds firm, the Packers could have no choice but to trade him. I'm sure head coach Kyle Shanahan wouldn't be opposed to bringing him to San Francisco.
Sleeper Surprise: Jeopardy!
The team that no one sees coming? Jeopardy!
Rodgers hosted the primetime TV show for two weeks in April and did a fantastic job. He even joked with a contestant about the decision to kick a field goal in the NFC Championship Game. Afterward, he said it would be a dream to become the show's full-time host.
If (and that's a massive 'if') Jeopardy! extended the offer, Rodgers might not be able to pass it up. He turns 38 in December and could simply retire from the game of football having earned more than $240 million in the NFL.
Realistically, every team in the NFL could use Rodgers if he became available. The New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and everyone in between would as least call.
The landing spots for a playoff passer like Aaron Rodgers are endless, but most people probably can't see him playing anywhere else than under Matt LaFleur in the green and yellow.
