It appears that not everyone in the NFL world is waiting on Aaron Rodgers to make a decision.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the New Orleans Saints are now the favorites to sign former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. Carr had met with several NFL teams, including the New York Jets. The Jets were reported to be impressed with Carr, and some believed they were the favorite to land the quarterback. It does not appear that will be the case.
If Rodgers decides to return to the NFL in 2023 and Green Bay decides to keep him, Carr's deal with the Saints means absolutely nothing. If Rodgers decides to return and the Packers decide to trade him, this is absolutely the best case scenario for Green Bay.
As mentioned previously, the Jets had been interested in Carr, but are also interested in Rodgers. With Carr off the market, that leaves them with a choice between Rodgers and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as their two main alternatives at quarterback. It's likely the the team would have a strong preference for Rodgers in that scenario.
This gives the Packers much more leverage than they would have had if Carr had remained on the market longer. If he had stayed a free agent, the Jets could have swung a deal with less draft compensation due to there being another quality starter on the market, a starter they could get without giving up anything. Now that he is off the market, the Packers can increase their asking price for Rodgers.
The question of whether or not to trade Rodgers has to include the Packers’ belief in Jordan Love. Both Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst have said that Love is ready to be a starter in the NFL. They have also said they want Rodgers back. So which is it?
Even if Rodgers does come back to the Packers in 2023, there is no guarantee that we would not see a similar situation going down next offseason. At that point, the Packers will be in a much more disadvantaged spot when it comes to moving on from Rodgers. Love would, presumably, have his fifth-year option picked up for $20 million. Rodgers’ $47 million for 2024 becomes guaranteed five days after the Super Bowl. You can see how that presents a huge problem when it comes to finding a potential trade partner.
In other words, if the Packers are going to trade Rodgers, this offseason is the time to do it. Thanks to Carr signing with the Saints, they are in the best position they will ever be in while seeking a trade. The Jets, of course, remain a suitable option. However, the Las Vegas Raiders are still the betting favorites to land the four-time MVP via trade.
More must-reads: