Top 5 trade destinations for Aaron Rodgers in 2023 NFL season ft. Denver Broncos
Where would we be in the NFL if it did not involve Aaron Rodgers' potential trade destinations in the offseason?
The right answer to that is unfamiliar territory, as every season, Rodgers' next destination seems to be the primary topic of discussion. Especially as the Green Bay Packers drafted Jordan Love over giving Rodgers more offensive weapons, the latter has made sure that the entire focus is on what he wants to do.
As things stand, though, that could be changing. Aaron Rodgers has had a poor season, and the Green Bay Packers will almost certainly miss the playoffs. He has his thumb and rib injuries to contend with too.
Teams that may end up getting Aaron Rodgers in 2023
The Packers may finally decide it's time to move on from Aaron Rodgers. If that's indeed the case, the following five teams may find a spot for him.
#1 Denver Broncos
If you have looked at the Denver Broncos this season and thought the franchise had its quarterback situation figured out, you would be in the minority.
When the Broncos traded for Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks and acquired Nathaniel Hackett as their coach, they thought they would be challenging deep into the postseason. Instead, we have a team whose defense is still playing at an elite level that has been utterly let down by the offense.
Aaron Rodgers said this about new Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett in November 2020…
Aaron Rodgers to Denver? 👀 https://t.co/N1kI7b6XC4
On offense, one can either change the coach or the quarterback. The Broncos could decide to reunite Aaron Rodgers with his former offensive coordinator, under whom he won back-to-back MVP awards. That would require letting Russell Wilson go, but for a team built to win now, that might not be the worst investment.
#2 New York Jets
The New York Jets haven't been half as bad this season as they were supposed to be at the start of the season. The primary reason for that has been their offense, as they have struggled to get plays going. They have the third-best defense in the league, but the offense is helmed by Zach Wilson and Mike White.
Zach Wilson has got benched this season after some woeful performances, and Mike White seems to be in vogue now. However, anyone who remembers his performance last season will recall a phenomenal game with 405 yards and three touchdowns against the Bengals. That was followed by an abysmal game with a 33.4 QBR and four interceptions a couple of weeks later against the Bills.
Neither Wilson nor White are the answers for the offense. Aaron Rodgers could consider following the same path out of Green Bay as his predecessor Brett Favre.
#3 Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are up to third in the NFC East, and Taylor Heinicke has stabilized the team.
He has done so in each of his last two seasons whenever he has been given the chance. Yet, the Commanders have first gotten Ryan Fitzpatrick and then Carson Wentz to be their starters because even though they like Heinicke, they do not think that he's franchise quarterback level yet.
To resolve that conundrum, there's no one better for Heinicke to learn from while the Commanders finally get a reliable franchise quarterback, getting Aaron Rodgers in town. They have the fourth-best defense being let down by a middling offense, and Rodgers might be the one to rescue it.
#4 Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts were looking to follow the model established by Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams in the last two seasons respectively. It involved getting an elite quarterback who could read the game better and build everything around him.
To accomplish the same, they traded for Matt Ryan this offseason. However, he has not lived up to expectations. If the template remains the same for the coming seasons, Aaron Rodgers could be a great improvement in that offense. They have a top-quarter defense being let down by the offense right now.
#5 Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers need a quarterback after burning through Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Cam Newton in one and a half seasons. Aaron Rodgers would be an immediate improvement on a quarterback-needy team. The question here is whether Rodgers would want to go there.
#Buccaneers QB Tom Brady, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023 will reportedly consider all options. Has not made decision yet on if he wants to play next season. Teams will have interest
At first glance, he might not fancy it. However, the NFC South is notoriously weak, with the 6-7 Buccaneers leading the pile this season, so Rodgers could fancy his chances with the Panthers next season.
That's especially true if Tom Brady retires or moves to another team, leaving no top dog in that division. Rodgers might fancy an easier ride to the playoffs so that he can save his energy for the end of the season.