The Denver Broncos entered the offseason needing a new head coach and a franchise quarterback.
They accomplished the first part Thursday morning by reportedly hiring Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as the next head coach of the franchise.
Hackett was a hot commodity around the NFL after spending three seasons as the offensive coordinator in Green Bay.
He now heads to Denver and fans have to be thinking about his connection with Aaron Rodgers.
Does this mean the Broncos can now lure Rodgers to their franchise?
Broncos Take An Important First Step
There is no clarity to Rodgers’ status at the moment.
But let’s say he sees Hackett in Denver and decides he finally wants out.
He was already frustrated when the team used a first-round pick on Jordan Love and that feeling has not magically gone away.
The Broncos should now be his top trade destination.
But it goes further than just Rodgers.
Him wanting to be a Bronco could mean Davante Adams demands a trade there as well.
The star receiver will be a free agent, yet he can have a franchise tag placed on him.
This could lead to the Packers being forced to make a blockbuster deal with Denver than sends Rodgers and Adams out west in exchange for a haul of picks and players.
The Broncos have over $40 million in cap space and have been ready for this scenario all along.
Hiring Hackett was the first move to get it all started.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has a franchise-altering decision to make.
One option is to give Rodgers and Adams some major contract extensions to make them happy in Green Bay.
The alternative is to blow it all up and trade them both to Denver to kickstart a new Packers era.
Whatever he decides to do will have a ripple effect that shakes up the entire NFL.
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