Packers Go From All-In on Rodgers to ‘All Options’ Open – Including Trade

Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst fielded a myriad of questions about Aaron Rodgers on Tuesday at the Scouting Combine. The tenor of his answers was startling.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Feb 28, 2023 12:33 PM EST
Original:
Feb 28, 2023

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Green Bay Packers

INDIANAPOLIS – During a session with local media that lasted about 45 minutes on Tuesday morning at the Scouting Combine, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst never gave the slightest indication that Aaron Rodgers would be the team’s quarterback in 2023.

The juxtaposition of his myriad of answers about Rodgers and a single question about Mason Crosby was quite startling.

Asked point blank whether he wants Rodgers back for another season, Gutekunst said, “He’s a great player. But until we have those conversations, I think all options are on the table right now. But we really need to have those conversations. We want what’s best for the Green Bay Packers, what’s best for Aaron. So, we’ll get to that once those conversations happen.”

Asked about Crosby’s leg strength, Gutekunst talked about the challenge of Crosby coming off knee surgery and how he’s been so reliable at Lambeau Field.

“To be able to kick in Lambeau Field in clutch situations, any new kicker, that’s going to be tough for those guys. That takes time. Mason has that,” Gutekunst said. “He has the experience and stuff. I think you’ll see a stronger leg and different power in his legs on kickoffs this coming year because he won’t be coming off that surgery.”

Perhaps Gutekunst’s tepid answers regarding the four-time MVP and longtime face of the franchise stem from the great unknown that is Rodgers’ future.

Gutekunst said he and Rodgers have exchanged some text messages but haven’t talked since the end of the season. He has no idea if Rodgers wants to play in 2023. He has no idea if Rodgers wants to play for the Packers in 2023. He has no idea if Rodgers’ hopes of contending for a championship will mesh with Gutekunst’s vision of the roster.

Really, Gutekunst doesn’t know any more now than he did when the season crashed and burned at icy Lambeau Field 51 days ago.

Among the numerous hypotheticals thrown at Gutekunst was this one:

Is it possible Rodgers will decide he wants to return to Green Bay but Gutekunst will tell him he’s ready to hand the offense to Jordan Love?

“Until we have those conversations, I think that’s pretty hypothetical. But, like I said, everything is on the table,” he said.

While Gutekunst downplayed it, the change in what he and the franchise thought about Rodgers’ future at this time last year has been incredible.

Before last year’s Scouting Combine, Gutekunst said, “This is the MVP of the league and he makes this whole thing go. So, we’re disappointed that we didn’t finish it off the last two years but there’s no reason to think we can’t get right back there and knock on the door and get there. So, yeah, I think we’re full forward ahead.”

Now, after an 8-9 season for the team and a below-average season for the quarterback, the Packers are open to trading one of the greatest players in NFL history.

What happened?

“I don’t know if things shifted,” Gutekunst said. “I think with a player who’s played as long as Aaron has, and as we’ve gone the last few years, we realized for him it’s been a year-to-year type of proposition. I think we’ve known that moving forward, that last year when we did the contract it was going to be year-to-year. That’s kind of where we’re at.

“I don’t think it really adjusted or changed too much. I think we’ve always kind of known it was going to be year-to-year with him. I will say our season last year certainly adjusted some things and our thinking a little bit. Obviously, it was a disappointing season. Not where we wanted to be. Whenever that happens, you’re going to look at a number of things that you’re going to change.”

But things have shifted. A year ago, to help create needed salary-cap space, the Packers gave Rodgers a complicated three-year, $150 million contract extension. Now, the Packers are open to trading him – even to the detriment of an already-stressed salary cap.

“I think you’re looking at it wrong,” he responded. “We committed to working with Aaron on this the whole way through – last year and this year, as well, and moving forward. We’ll work with him. We haven’t had a chance to do that. As we work towards whatever resolution we worked towards, it’ll be with him. We just haven’t had that chance to do any of that yet.”

Interestingly, at this time last year, Gutekunst said he and Rodgers had “really good conversations.” This year, they’ve had no conversations since the end-of-season exit interviews.

Whenever those conversations do happen, perhaps Gutekunst and Rodgers will decide that the best direction is working together. But, for now, a trade – either asked for by Rodgers or facilitated by Gutekunst – remains squarely on the table.

“I’ve talked to a lot of different teams about a lot of different things but actually talking about trades, not yet,” Gutekunst said. “Certainly, people would be interested in Aaron Rodgers, right? If they thought he was available.”