Green Bay’s huge offseason problem
March 13, 2023
As teams reassess their game plans for the upcoming season, the NFL offseason has fans watching to see where players will fall on the 2023 roster for their favorite teams.
With their eyes set on a Super Bowl title, coaches continue to assess players. One debatable acquisition could be Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ current quarterback.
Rodgers, 39, finished his 2022 campaign with a total QB rating of 91.1, completing 350 of 542 passes in the regular season and throwing for 3,695 yards.
Drafted in 2005, Rodgers has 59,055 passing yards under his belt, ranking him ninth in the league for most passing yards: eight spots below Tom Brady.
However, Rodgers struggled in the clutch last season; he played poorly when a playoff appearance was on the line in the team’s last regular season game against the Lions. Rodgers’ two critical interceptions allowed Detroit to seal the victory in Lambeau, casting more doubt on Rodgers’ future with the Packers.
Rodgers, who has played for the Packers his entire career, managed only to take the team to the Super Bowl in 2010, where they won against the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25.
Winning the MVP award for the 2010 season, fans hoped to see the Packers return to the Super Bowl.
However, Rodgers remains searching for his second trip, and the main question in Green Bay is whether the organization is better off starting the season with Jordan Love.
The Packers continue to hold onto Rodgers, which also comes with his $50 million per year contract.
Rodgers has won four MVPs in his career, but fans question if Rodgers is fighting against Father Time, much like Tom Brady over the past five years.
If the Packers decide to move Rodgers, they will have the opportunity to develop Love and see if he could be the quarterback of the future.
Love, 24, has a QB rating of 82.2 and completed 14 of 21 passes in 2022, throwing for 195 yards this season. He showed signs in a road game against the Eagles that he could deliver results.
Love connected on 6 of 9 passes for 113 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
While his stats are subpar in comparison to his predecessor, Love has one advantage over Rodgers: his youth.
One potential suitor for Rodgers could be the New York Jets.
Jets owner Woody Johnson loves the idea of having Rodgers in New York; Johnson likes the idea of having a great veteran quarterback tossing passes to Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore. The chances of a playoff appearance increase.
It would be ironic if that scenario happened as Rodgers would be following in the footsteps of former Green Bay Packer Super Bowl champion and quarterback Brett Favre.
Only time will tell where Rodgers winds up for the 2023 season. However, one thing will be clear for Rodgers this season: his play needs to be more consistent.
The offseason leaves the Packers with many important questions.
Will Rodgers continue to fight to stay in the spotlight? Or has another season loss queued Rodger’s retirement and the passing of the torch to a younger quarterback?