Derek Carr could be off the market soon, making Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers one of the most highly coveted remaining quarterback targets in 2023.
In the wake of the boat-rocking Derek Carr news, the Green Bay Packers franchise is probably feeling pretty good about themselves.
Free agent Derek Carr spurned the New York Jets’ advances this past offseason and has chosen to give his rose to the New Orleans Saints instead. From the Jets’ perspective, rejection never feels good. From the Packers’ perspective, the front office is eagerly rubbing their hands knowing that the price tag for Rodgers just skyrocketed.
Carr and the Saints could finalize an agreement by the end of today, leaving Aaron Rodgers as the hottest name in the quarterback market assuming Rodgers wants a trade.
Following Rodgers’ controversial darkness retreat, the veteran quarterback has yet to make a decision on his future in the NFL. Rodgers presumably doesn’t want to pull a Brett Favre and plans on going through with whatever he decides, whether that’s staying with the Packers, retiring, or asking for a trade out of Green Bay.
Packers: Aaron Rodger’s stock skyrockets after Derek Carr’s rumored agreement with the Saints
Rodgers suffered a down year in 2022, missing the playoffs and throwing double-digit interceptions for the third time in his storied career. There may be a few more good seasons left in Rodgers, and he most likely doesn’t want to end his career on this sour note.
His most probable destination, should he ask for a trade, is New York, a franchise that was crippled from pathetic quarterback play in 2022 and throughout the last decade, really. The big dogs of the NY media would meet their match in Rodgers, who would immediately make the Jets a playoff contender next season and would inherit one of the youngest and most talented rosters in the league.
Given the latest reports of the Packers being fed up with Rodgers’ antics and the undesirable financial constraints of Rodgers’ contract, it may be in Green Bay’s best interest to move on from him and receive a bevy of draft picks in return.
Any Rodgers trade would probably require a first-round pick just to get a foot through the door, and any suitor would also need to take on his projected $16 million cap hit in 2023.
Other than the Jets, the Panthers, Raiders, Titans, and Bucs also stand out as quarterback-needy teams who could be open to a blockbuster trade.
Carr made his decision. It’s now time for Rodgers to make his.
