Did the 49ers end Rodgers’ tenure in Green Bay? According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, it’s looking that way.
The Packers beat writer told Papa & Lund on Monday that Rodgers’ loss to the 49ers on Saturday changed the calculation for Rodgers and Green Bay.
“Entering that game on Saturday I truly thought from everything he said and everything we heard this season, that he wanted to be back in Green Bay and would be back in Green Bay,” Schneidman said on KNBR. “I think things changed now. He said the way this season ended and the way the two seasons ended, ‘of course’, is the term he used, factor into things about his future. He said he would meet with General Manager Brian Gutekunst this week, take some time off, then make a decision before the start of free agency on March 16.
“It’s impossible to get into Aaron Rodgers’ head and know what he’s thinking, but I really think how that game ended changed his plans. I don’t think he’s going to be with the Packers next year. I think the Packers are going to be around $50 million over the cap, they’ve proven that no matter how well Rodgers plays there’s still the possibility that he flops in the playoffs and they don’t make the Super Bowl. I wouldn’t say he flopped last year against the Buccaneers necessarily but he flopped on Saturday, so maybe the Packers are thinking ‘let’s just start a rebuild, because it’s clearly not working right now. We’re in cap hell, let’s just start it over.’ So I made the prediction on our podcast the other day that I think he’s going to get traded to the Broncos this offseason.”
With the Packers eyeing a possible full rebuild, Schneidman believes a wild trade could be in order.
“I’m interested to see what the Packers could get back in a trade for Rodgers. My prediction was they tag and trade (Davante) Adams and then ship him to Denver with Rodgers, in which case it would be a monumental return. But for the back-to-back MVP, I think they could get three first-round picks and a second for him.”
The Broncos are projected to have the fourth most cap space ($44.8 million) and have a need at quarterback. They are also in the process of interviewing Packers Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who Rodgers is apparently very fond of.
“If you remember last year Rodgers jokingly but not-so-jokingly said that when Hackett was interviewing for the Falcons head coaching job before they hired Arthur Smith, that ‘I hope Hackett doesn’t go anywhere,’ and then he smirked and said ‘unless I do.’ He loves Nathaniel Hackett. Is this the Broncos really thinking that Hackett is their best head coach? Could be. Is it them trying to get ahead and trying to entice Aaron Rodgers to approve this as a trade destination? I would think that’s more likely. That automatically becomes more enticing of a destination for Rodgers.
“They have a really good young defense. They have a good running game with Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon, a great wide receiver corps which becomes better if you throw Davante Adams into the deal. I can’t get off Denver right now. If you tag and trade Davante Adams and also trade Aaron Rodgers; three first-round picks, two seconds, Jerry Jeudy and Noah Fant maybe? I don’t think that’s out of the question.”
Listen to the full interview below. You can listen to every KNBR interview on our podcast page at knbr.com/podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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