Rodgers trade could have knock-on effect, impact Bears plans originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Aaron Rodgers’ final game as the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field could take place on Dec. 4, when he salutes Bears fans after a 28-19 Week 13 win.
On Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on the Packers’ prospect of trading Rodgers this offseason. is “a real possibility”. If Rodgers does play his final game in green and gold, his exit could have implications for a crucial offseason for a division rival he has had since 2008.
The Bears finished the season 3-14 and have the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. General manager Ryan Powles said quarterback Justin Fields, who will be his starter in 2023, would have to be “blind” to pick a quarterback at No. 1.
Poles expects teams in need of a quarterback to trade draft picks in late March.
But Rodgers, Derek Carr, Lamar Jackson, Tom Brady and the rest of the offseason veteran quarterback rotation will determine how many and which teams cut the call in Harrah’s Hall after beating the veterans Wire.
There are two types of quarterback need teams: those who think they are quarterbacks away from contention and those who start from scratch. The latter — think the Texans, Colts, Panthers — won’t be a logical destination for the 39-year-old Rodgers, who wants to go somewhere with realistic championship dreams, not in NFL purgatory spent the last years of his career.
The Jets, Raiders, Commanders and Saints seem like the most likely contenders for Rodgers, Carr and Brady.
When the music stops, whichever team stays will be desperate to find a quarterback to improve it tenfold.
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From where we are in mid-January, the Colts and Texans could end up in a bidding war to see who jumps to No. 1 to draft CJ Stroud or Bryce Young.
But don’t underestimate the possibility of a fake contender missing Rodgers — should the Packers trade him — and decide now is the time to make a big splash for the franchise’s quarterback in the draft.
The Raiders are 7th, the Panthers are 9th, the Jets are 13th and the Commanders are 16th.
The Jets have done an excellent job of building a young, talented roster with the image of a contender. But it’s clear they’ve turned their noses up at Zach Wilson and must now find a fit at center who won’t derail their title aspirations. That could be Mike White. If Rodgers is available, the Jets appear to be the best potential landing spot for the spotlight-hungry, high-profile superstar.
But what if Rodgers doesn’t move, Carr goes to Washington, and Brady goes to Las Vegas? If the Jets really believe they have what it takes to contend for a title, they might consider doing something similar to what the 49ers did when they moved up from No. 12 to No. 3 in 2021 to draft Trey Lance .
The Bears’ drop to No. 13 probably won’t whet Polish appetites, unless there’s a big draft.
But that’s just one example of a Rodgers trade, and whether or not it materializes, it could have a knock-on effect, injecting unlikely teams into bidding for the No. 1 pick.
That could all end with Rodgers returning to Green Bay in 2023. But there’s no question the Bears are very interested in how Green Bay’s offseason saga unfolds — for more than one reason.
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