Could the Green Bay Packers trade Aaron Rodgers for Russell Wilson in 2023?
Russell Wilson has endured a nightmare year with the Denver Broncos, but could the Green Bay Packers offer him a way out with a trade involving Aaron Rodgers?
The end of the 2022 season can’t come soon enough for both the Broncos and the Packers. They have struggled to build any real momentum and the results have been poor.
It may seem early given the fact that they only signed him in 2022, but Denver could well be looking to move on from Wilson given the incredible scale of his contract. With a total value of $242 million through the 2028 NFL season, Denver is seemingly stuck with the quarterback who carries a huge cap hit every season he is in the Mile High City.
Green Bay Packers are in a similar position. They gave Aaron Rodgers one of the biggest NFL contracts ever to tempt him to stay after intense efforts to force a trade. However, his 2022 season has been so poor it looks as though the Packers have buyer’s remorse over the deal.
With both teams in such an unenviable position, could they get each other out of a hole?
Would Green Bay want Russell Wilson?
Wilson remains one of the most marketable quarterbacks in the NFL. His record speaks for itself, he has won a Super Bowl and reached a further one which he lost to the New England Patriots. He has an incredible skillset which includes the ability to be mobile and keep plays alive.
A 5-8 record threatens to end the Packers' season before the postseason. That is a significant drop from 2021 when they were the best regular-season team.
Rodgers' level of play has dipped. He's no longer playing at an MVP level, and despite agreeing to a new contract a year ago, he's clearly unhappy in Wisconsin.
The Packers don't want to be tied to Rodgers' contract indefinitely, but if they don't make a change in 2023, there won't be many other options.
Trading for Russell Wilson would provide them with some insurance. It would be a breath of fresh air for a team that has grown tired of Rodgers' constant agitation.
He isn’t as naturally talented a quarterback as Rodgers, but he is a lot easier to manage and build an offense around, especially when you factor in Green Bay's attitude to free agency.
The Aaron Rodgers contract was intentionally structured to be easily exited by either side after each year:
-A guaranteed roster bonus instead of a signing bonus ensures no retirement payback.
-Annual option bonuses instead of large base salaries makes trades easier to execute.
Who would win from a Russell Wilson/Aaron Rodgers trade?
What people need to be made aware of is that trades such as this potential blockbuster rarely have outright winners.
To use a boxing analogy, the biggest fights between the greatest talents rarely take place at the right time. The fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao was made too late and was not as good. The fight starring Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis was released too late and was not as good. Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will happen too late and won't be as good.
NFL teams never want to give up elite quarterbacks. It just never makes sense to do so… unless there is a problem.
Rodgers has become too disgruntled in Green Bay and his performances have now declined to a level where he isn’t worth the headaches.
Wilson was supposed to be the savior in Denver, taking an already complete roster over the line after years without a competitive QB… yet he sits with a 3-10 record.
Neither the Broncos nor the Packers are approaching this possible trade from a position of strength.
It has to be remembered that Denver made a real push for Rodgers in 2021 when he was looking to leave and they were heavily linked to him again in 2022.
Rodgers was their first choice ahead of Wilson and nobody thought they would get another chance to sign him. 2022’s developments have given them that chance and it’s hard to see them ignore it.
The Green Bay Packers also have another ace up their sleeve in the form of Jordan Love.
Drafted to take over from Rodgers eventually, but he hasn’t yet made that transition. Should the Packers trade for Wilson, they could rest in the knowledge that trading Love away would earn them a good number of draft picks to use on offensive talent to support the former Seattle starter.
suspension
IMO, You can argue Goff's playing better than these six QBs that got paid this offseason:
Aaron Rodgers ($50.3M/yr)
Russell Wilson ($49M/yr)
Kyler Murray ($46.1M/yr)
Deshaun Watson ($46M/yr) -I get it. Just returned ➡️ suspension
Derek Carr ($40.5M/yr)
Matthew Stafford ($40M/yr) twitter.com/RapSheet/statu…
Would Russell Wilson want to go to Green Bay?
With it understood that Rodgers and Denver would be a solution that works for both parties, the only remaining issue would be whether Wilson would want to go to the Packers.
It's difficult to evaluate. The market in Wisconsin isn't huge, so it wouldn't help his off-field portfolio or his wife Ciara's.
The roster is strong and should rebound in 2023, though there are significant weaknesses in the receiving corps, with Davante Adams not replaced.
However, Wilson knows his situation in Colorado is untenable. He hasn’t convinced fans and the team has failed since his arrival. Once this pressure builds, it is very difficult to turn the ship around, and he knows that.
Moving to the Packers, who were so good as recently as in 2021, would give him a chance to win again.
Russell Wilson is a competitor at heart. He will want to return to the Super Bowl and moving to Green Bay may be one of his best chances, because the Denver Broncos are close to giving up on him.