Patriots HC Bill Belichick shuts down offseason rumor regarding potential Aaron Rodgers trade

On Monday, head coach Bill Belichick refuted an offseason rumor that the New England Patriots approached the Green Bay Packers earlier this year about a potential trade for their former quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

Per the Boston Herald, Belichick appeared on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" and was asked about a June 2023 report from FS1's Craig Carton in which he said the Patriots tried to trade for Rodgers but the four-time league MVP, who was traded to the New York Jets in April, blocked the deal.

"I'm not really sure what you're referring to," Belichick, who also serves as the team's de facto general manager, said.

In 2022, longtime staffer Matt Groh was promoted to director of player personnel and is entering his second season in that role. 

"I personally couldn't speak to that," Belichick added. "Listen, there's a lot of conversations in the offseason between our personnel people and other executives... I personally didn't talk to the Packers about Aaron Rodgers, no."

Belichick's recollection doesn't eliminate the possibility that a conversation between the two organizations took place but does make clear the Patriots were never serious contenders to land Rodgers.

Mac Jones will start at quarterback for the third consecutive season after New England selected him 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He led New England to the postseason as a rookie but regressed last season under the tutelage of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge.

Jones finished his rookie year 16th in QBR (50.9), sandwiched between Kirk Cousins (15th) and Lamar Jackson (17th). Last year, Jones ranked 30th in QBR (36.2), finishing one spot above Davis Mills and directly below Zach Wilson, two quarterbacks in backup roles to start the 2023 season.

Jones' promising rookie season, as well as the failed Patricia-Judge experiment at offensive coordinator, warranted giving Jones another opportunity as the starter. 

Even so, New England would have only been doing its due diligence by kicking the tires on a Rodgers trade. When one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history is on the market and there's a potential need at quarterback, you look into making that move.

It's in the rearview, whether because the Patriots decided not to pursue Rodgers or Rodgers rebuffed New England's advances.

The Patriots get two chances to prove they made the right choice (or Rodgers made the wrong one) during the regular season. New England travels to New York in Week 3, and the teams meet again in Foxborough in the regular-season finale.