Yes, the Green Bay Packers potentially will be a different team next year. But I have a hunch things won’t change all that much. Salary cap problems are always overrated. As head coach Matt Lafleur says, “There’s ways to move money and to make sure that we get the bulk of our key contributors back.” Of course the one guy he really needs back is quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The recent hiring of Nathaniel Hackett as head coach of the Denver Broncos certainly raises the possibility Rodgers could join him. I don’t see that happening.
I just can’t see how Denver is a better situation for Rodgers after they send a bulk of their future resources to the Packers in exchange for Rodgers. You can’t tell me the Broncos are a quarterback away from the Super Bowl. And Vic Fangio isn’t running that defense anymore so there’s no guarantee they will still be a top ten unit again. They do have some talent at the offensive skill positions but at least one of them would probably be part of the trade for Rodgers, who will likely be a back-to-back MVP winner in two weeks.
Best path to the Super Bowl
The Packers currently have the third best odds to win the Super Bowl next year while the Broncos are 18th. You might want to check out RI sportsbooks if you think Rodgers is heading to the Bronco. The odds will certainly be quite different if it actually happens. It would be fun to watch.
Rodgers will have to factor in the fact the Broncos play in the AFC West. He would be battling Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr twice a year. Winning that division is going to be a lot harder than winning the NFC North. Next year the North will have two teams with new coaches and the Detroit Lions. Which looks more attractive to you?
I have to also wonder how Rodgers would explain to Lafleur, a man he said he loves, that he is leaving him for Hackett. With all his talk about relationships and the grass is greener where you water it, I think Rodgers would have a hard time doing that. The Packers organization bent over backward to make Rodgers happy this season so it would be a real stab in the back if Rodgers said he wanted out now.
So I think Rodgers will indeed be back for one more shot at getting over the hump. And I’m sure they’ll find a way to keep Davante Adams as well. Most of the Packers key players will be back and that should be enough to get to the playoffs again. Maybe next time it will be the Packers that catch fire in January. When you least expect it.