AFC team reportedly out of Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been a hot commodity ever since the 2023 NFL offseason began. He recently emerged from his four-day darkness retreat, and many anticipate his decision on his NFL future within the coming weeks.
Rodgers agreed to his massive extension on March 8, 2022. Perhaps his decision for the 2023 season will come around the same time this year. The Packers have been rumored to be open to trading the four-time MVP quarterback if he does return. However, one team has already backed out of the Rodgers sweepstakes.
Despite buzz linking the Las Vegas Raiders to a trade for Rodgers, the team reportedly is set to look in a different direction to fill its need under center.
Per Hondo Carpenter of Sports Illustrated:
“Owner Mark Davis loved the idea of adding Tom Brady, and Josh McDaniels wanted an experienced leader. But now we know that after considering making a move for Rodgers if he were to become available, the Raiders are looking in different directions. They aren’t waiting for Rodgers or the Green Bay Packers to part ways.
“Does that mean the door is 100 percent closed? No, but I wouldn’t rate it at any percentage better than ancillary. Perhaps, five percent.”
Tashan Reed of The Athletic recently asked Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler this question: “You’re set to have a lot of cap space and draft picks this offseason. How beneficial is having the added flexibility that brings?” This was his response:
“The reality is we have quite a few areas on the football team that we want to improve. Allocating a bunch of resources to one player at one position, I don’t know how intelligent that is because you have to look at all the areas that you need to improve the team on. I don’t think we’re one or two $15-20 million players away from us building it exactly how we want to build it and having the right amount of depth and having the right amount of starting-level players, too, at different positions.”
The part that stood out was “Allocating a bunch of resources to one player at one position, I don’t know how intelligent that is…” That would certainly insinuate that the Raiders aren’t looking to pull off a massive trade for any player, let alone Rodgers.
The Packers’ assumed asking price for Aaron Rodgers is pretty steep. Peter King of NBC Sports believes the Packers would want “at least two first-round picks” in any trade for Rodgers. It is possible the Packers would agree to a player (presumably a starter) and one first-round draft pick. Either way, that is a lot to give up, even if it is for a four-time MVP quarterback.
