Report: 'Most teams' believe Aaron Rodgers will return to Packers
If quarterback Aaron Rodgers is planning on doing something other than returning to the Green Bay Packers for the 2022 NFL season, he's fooling some of the so-called smartest people in the figurative room across the first several days of March.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport explained during an on-air segment on Thursday that talks between the Packers and Rodgers regarding a short-term deal that would make the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player "certainly the highest-paid player" in the league were "in a very good place" heading into the weekend. The Athletic's Jeff Howe then raised eyes when he wrote later that day that "there’s a widespread belief around the league" Rodgers will play at least one more season with the Packers.
Rapoport appeared on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Friday and said that "most of the teams" he's spoken with and "most everyone" thinks Rodgers will be Green Bay's QB1 when training camp sessions open this summer.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst sparked conversations throughout the football community when he told reporters Tuesday he hadn't received formal trade calls regarding Rodgers' services. Rapoport added he believes Gutekunst's claim because no team would make a meaningful offer for somebody it doesn't know will be available at the risk of upsetting a signal-caller already on its roster — think the Cleveland Browns reportedly committing to keeping Baker Mayfield their starter for another season while theoretically calling the Packers about Rodgers at the same time.
Per reports, Rodgers hasn't told the Packers what he intends to do this year, and he could always change his mind if he has already made a decision but not yet called Gutekunst and company. For now, though, it looks like the 38-year-old won't be involved in trade rumors as he was on the first night of the 2021 NFL Draft.
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