Craig Carton links Packers' Aaron Rodgers with 49ers amid Jets uncertainty

New York sports radio host and Fox Sports personality Craig Carton has suggested the San Francisco 49ers could pursue Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers if the New York Jets don't soon land the future Hall of Famer. 

"Aaron Rodgers would absolutely want to play for this franchise: [the] San Francisco 49ers," Carton said during Tuesday's edition of his FS1 show, as shared by Rohan Chakravarthi of 49ers WebZone. "They have Trey Lance, who's coming off a broken ankle, Brock Purdy, who's not going to be throwing till August or September, and they signed Sam Darnold. They do not have a quarterback right now. Maybe, Trey [Lance] becomes a stud. We don't know. Aaron Rodgers is from the area and has always said, 'I might want to go home one day.'" 

Carton has a history of breaking NFL and Jets-related news. On Dec. 29, 2020, he reported that then-Jets head coach Adam Gase would be fired after that NFL season. New York made the move official less than a week later. 

As Ryan Chichester of Audacy pointed out, Carton said during Monday's edition of his WFAN afternoon radio show that "another team" could swoop in for Rodgers. 

Carton has since revealed the identity of that team to be one that played in three of the last four NFC Championship Games and a franchise that might need a legitimate starting quarterback in September. 

A healthy Lance is an unproven commodity, and nobody knows what the 22-year-old will be coming off the serious ankle injury he suffered last September. 

Purdy didn't have surgery until March 10 to address the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and may not be ready to face a live defense until the middle of this coming November. Darnold, meanwhile, failed to cement himself as a long-term starter during stints with the Jets and Carolina Panthers.

Rodgers made it known last month he intends to play for the Jets, and it's widely assumed Gang Green and Green Bay will eventually work out a trade even if it takes until during the NFL Draft later this month to finalize that deal. 

It was, however, reported in December that multiple general managers believed at that time the 49ers could "seriously inquire about" Rodgers this offseason. 

Perhaps San Francisco would make the Packers a better offer for Rodgers than the Jets have thus far presented now that Green Bay has essentially confirmed the club is ready to move on from the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player.  

Interestingly, it was also reported this week that "there was some chatter" at the NFL combine that the 49ers could make a move for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. 

Clearly, some within the league think San Francisco is at least considering outside options regarding its quarterback situation.