Is it time for the Packers to move on from Aaron Rodgers?

Photo+Courtesy+of+The+Guardian+

Photo Courtesy of The Guardian

Aidan Adams, Staff Writer

The biggest question in Green Bay after the 16-20 loss to Detroit is whether or not it’s time to move on from Aaron Rodgers. 2022 has been Rodgers’ worst year statistically since being injured in 2017. Rodgers in 2022 threw 26 TDs, 12 INTs, and had 3,695 passing yards. While these stats are quite impressive, they are lackluster considering Rodgers is coming off back-to-back MVP seasons. A key problem for many Packer fans is that it seems Rodgers never shows up in the must-win games. For example, in the 2021 playoffs when the Packers lost 10-13 to the 49ers, Rodgers scored no touchdowns and missed nine throws.

Where do the Packers go from here? A trade might be the best option for the Packers, and junior Johnathan Sharayera agrees. He says, “We can see through the season that Rodgers has declined. I believe due to recent playoff failures that the Packers should look at starting out on a fresh slate.”

However there is one big problem, Rogers just signed a three-year, $150 million extension. Another problem is that there aren’t many contending teams that need quarterbacks. If a trade were to occur the only two real possibilities for the Packers would be either the Commanders or the Jets. If there were to be a trade to either of these teams, the Packers should prioritize their needs, a WR3, defensive tackle, and a right tackle. In a trade with the Jets, the Packers should look to get Quinnen Williams, and Corey Davis for Aaron Rodgers. If the Packers decide to send Rodgers to Washington they should look to get Curtis Samual and Daron Payne.

Commanders fan like junior Andrew Ross feel that “the Commanders should not pursue Aaron Rodgers, the Commanders should develop a young QB like Sam Howell instead of giving up essential pieces. Keeping those essential pieces will make the job that much easier for a young QB like Howell.”

If the Packers front office decides to make this monumental move, they would begin a slight rebuild. When it comes to Jordan Love, Harry Rothmann feels like it’s his time, “after all, the Packers spent a first-round pick on him. You don’t pick a guy unless you are going to use him. He’s shown flashes when he’s given chances, and has 3 years of learning experience sitting behind one of the best QB’s ever.”

This trade would be monumental for both parties and would let either the Jets or Commanders begin to truly contend and at the same time allow the Packers to stay in Wild Card contention. Now say that this trade never happens and Aaron Rodgers stays, what do the Packers do now? The Packers need to prioritize their draft picks, they should get either Jalin Hyatt or Jordan Addison at WR to stretch out defenses in the first round, as the draft goes into the second and third rounds they should then get a DT, TE. As far as a trade goes, the Packers could possibly trade Kenny Clark for a 2nd-3rd round pick. The Packers recently have not made any major moves in the offseason, with the team not making the playoffs and uncertainty with Aaron Rodgers future could this be the year that things change.