Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a loaded contract that renders him financially tied to the team for at least two years unless it opts for recklessness. Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Here's why it's impossible for the Packers to trade Aaron Rodgers

By Blake Harper | Last updated 4/28/20

Easily the biggest surprise of last week's NFL draft was when the Green Bay Packers traded up to take Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round. Naturally, fans and analysts have speculated wildly about what this means for Aaron Rodgers, with some even saying the Packers could trade away Rodgers and give Love the starting spot. But a quick look at Rodgers' contract shows why a trade is pretty much impossible.

Rodgers still has four years left on his contract, which already makes it difficult for the Packers to get rid of him. But the real problem for the Packers is that even if they managed to trade Rodgers, they would still take a massive financial hit. If Rodgers is not on the Packers this season, it would cost the team $51.148 million in dead cap space and even if they waited a year, it would still be a $31 million cap hit. Basically, unless the Packers are absolutely desperate to start Love, there's really no reason for them to ship Rodgers out of town.

If the Packers do see Love as the quarterback of the future, the earliest realistic scenario for trading Rodgers is in two years, as they would only be eating $17 million in dead cap space. Of course, considering that Rodgers had to wait behind Brett Favre for three years before finally getting to start, it's not unreasonable to believe that the Packers are comfortable letting Love learn behind Rodgers for a few years before giving him the starting job.

Still, it's hard not to acknowledge the elephant in the film room, as Love didn't fall to the Packers. They traded up for him, signaling that they see him as their quarterback of the future. Additionally, the Packers once again didn't address the lack of weapons on offense, as they didn't add a single wide receiver in the draft. But even if the Packers are ready to move on from the Rodgers era, they'll have to wait a few years, unless they are willing to dedicate a huge chunk of their cap to someone who no longer plays for them.

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