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Aaron Rodgers trade haul from Broncos could have been great

By Sayre Bedinger

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws an inccomplete pass against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Ndamukong Suh (93) in the final minutes of the game during the NFC championship game Sunday, January 24, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinApc Packvstampa 0124211541djpb
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws an inccomplete pass against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Ndamukong Suh (93) in the final minutes of the game during the NFC championship game Sunday, January 24, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinApc Packvstampa 0124211541djpb /
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2021 NFL Draft, Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers made headlines during the 2021 NFL Draft (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

What a trade could have looked like

All told, had a trade happened prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, it would not have been shocking in the least to see the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos agree to something like this:

Packers receive:

  • 9th overall pick: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
  • 40th overall pick: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
  • OLB Bradley Chubb
  • OG Graham Glasgow/Dalton Risner
  • QB Drew Lock
  • 2022 1st-round pick
  • 2022 2nd-round pick

Assuming the Packers’ 2021 Draft class remained the same in addition to these picks and players coming aboard, the roster would have been well-stocked for the Jordan Love era, regardless if he was a little green starting out.

Now that the 2021 NFL Draft has passed, trading Rodgers for a package of draft picks, even when included with big-time players like Bradley Chubb, makes way less sense from the Packers’ perspective because of the fact that those draft picks are now going to be way lower if Rodgers is quarterbacking the team.

If Rodgers insists on never playing for the Packers again, it might not be until the 2022 offseason that a trade gets struck so the Packers can know exactly what draft picks they will be working with. There will be no shortage of suitors come next offseason, and the Packers could perhaps get something way better than what would be, at best, picks in the late 20s coming from Denver in 2022 and 2023.

A trade haul like this from Denver is something the Packers could expect to get even a year from now, especially if Rodgers “retires” for a season and doesn’t go out there and get hurt or something.

With that being the case, the Packers might want to stand their ground as long as possible.

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