As far as the $60KK; I just don't think money considerations should be put above what is best for the team. Mistakes are made in draft picks and in giving out salaries. You don't in my opinion play someone if it is better for the team to play somebody else. PROBABLY we have a better record with Rodgers but now is the time to find out things about Love imho which I think is important for the franchise to know.
Don't fool yourself, Rodgers is a significant upgrade over Love entering next season. The only reason the Packers would think about trading Rodgers if he decides to come up is the price tag included in his current deal. They won't pay him all the money to have him sit on the bench though.
Stop, Gute absolutely could play hardball right back - it would be tough but they could afford both and tell him Love is starting.
That would be an extremely stupid move by Gutekunst and actually should get him close to being fired.
FYI, it would result in the Packers having to pay their backup quarterback $60 million in cash for holding a clipboard in 2023 while the team would take a total of $100 million of cap hits over the next two seasons for having Rodgers as their backup quarterback for one year.
That doesn't sound to be a solid approach and definitely doesn't give Gutekunst any leverage in the situation.
The Bucs we so damn close the year before Brady joined them. That team, aside from Winston, was stacked. They missed the playoffs by 1 game if memories serves...with their quarterback throwing 30 picks.
I'm with Mondio--I don't think there any team in the league quite that close right now.
The Bucs were stacked on offense before Brady signed with them but they had a terrible defense in 2018. In my opinion the Jets are currently the team just a QB away from being a legit contender.
I'm not sure on teams cap situations, but there are some out there. Yes, the Jets are one of them. I'd say the Falcons, Texans, Colts, Raiders, Patriots, Saints, 49ers, Bucs, Titans, and Commanders could all use upgrades. Those that would be a QB away might be the Bucs, Raiders, maybe the Patriots. Possibly the Colts. Jets do make the most sense.
I don't consider any other team than the Jets being just a QB away from being a legit contender. Most of the teams you listed would need to improve their defense as well, which would be tough while giving up significant draft capital to acquire Rodgers as well.
Schefter's take (reported by Erin Walsh) on the Rodgers situation, for what its worth. He makes some very good points.
Article
I truly believe Rodgers won't make it dependent on playing for a specific team (Jets) if he decides to return.
Yes. When you watch Loves progression, there’s no denying he looks much more comfortable as of late. It was 37-23 Eagles, but after the Watson TD, it was a 7 point contest. Had our Defense not given up a 3 point FG on the ensuing drive??
It’s 30-37 and our Offense moved all the way down to the Philadelphia 14 with 1:13 on the clock and 4th n 4.
If he makes that first down? It’s 1st n goal with under 1 minute with 3 timeouts and 4 tries to score using any combination of run or pass available. On that drive #33 also dropped a perfect pass that hit our RB square on the numbers. That dropped pass would’ve resulted in a 1st and 10 from their 12 yardline with 1:50 to play and 3 timeouts.
Jordan really played good enough to Win that game, it was our Defense that came up short.
Jordan was 6/9 for 113 yards passing and 146.8 passer for 10 points. All That after a perfectly placed and dropped pass by #33 at the Philly 12 yardline. The only thing that stopped him was we needed 2 scores so we kicked a FG. He was really 7/9 and the other 2 passes thrown were both in very tight windows, but he took care of the ball and didn’t give the Defense a chance to steal it.
There's no doubt Love looked promising vs. the Eagles. You need to consider Philly was playing prevent defenses and allowed him to throw to his first read on every single throw. In addition they didn't blitz him at all.
As a co-Jets and Packers fan, I have to say that the Jets would be making a huge mistake to give up those picks for Rogers. That would be mortgaging a big chunk of their future for a guy who *might* last a couple of years(?) -- they're a team on the rise, and would be much better off getting a QB through free agency.
The Jets won't be able to get a quarterback even close to being as talented as Rodgers in free agency though.
I think Vegas is still an option for a destination for AR.
I highly doubt the Raiders have a decent chance of landing Rodgers.
