With Rodgers out of the mix, the Broncos are faced with needing a plan B
Mar 8, 2022, 10:25 AM
Well, that’s a bummer. After holding on to hope for 11 months, through two offseasons and an entire NFL campaign, the dream of Aaron Rodgers coming to the Broncos is finally over.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the back-to-back reigning MVP was returning to Green Bay. The QB agreed to a mega-contract with the Packers.
The #Packers and MVP QB Aaron Rodgers have agreed to terms on a 4-year, $200M deal that makes him the highest paid player in NFL history, sources say. He gets a whopping $153M guaranteed and his cap number goes down. A monstrous commitment by GB for years to come. 💰 💰 💰
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2022
In the end, the mercurial quarterback wasn’t any different than most professional athletes. Rodgers like to give off the impression that he’s a deep thinker, a philosopher, a well-read Renaissance man who marches to the beat of his own drummer. In reality, he’s all about the money, just like everyone else.
It’s not about having say in what the Packers do with their roster, as his contract will force them to make some hard decisions, no matter how “team-friendly” it’s alleged to be. It’s not about being upset that Green Bay drafter his eventual successor, as Jordan Love is still on the roster. And it’s not about a new challenge, as he returns to the familiar surroundings of Green Bay.
It was about money. And Rodgers got paid. While the Broncos got played.
So be it. That’s life. There’s no time to wallow. George Paton has to put on his big boy pants and move on.
The question now becomes, What’s next? Where does the Broncos general manager turn to now that his No. 1 option is off the table?
Hints are already starting to come in.
Hackett's familiarity w/Love will link speculation to Broncos. But Broncos will aim higher. Russell Wilson the expected next attempt.
Hackett/Paton weren't Broncos when Lock drafted in 2019 but he played well in Scangarello offense, which is same as Hackett offense. #9sports https://t.co/6DklQpdBNU— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) March 8, 2022
Denver’s next best option is Russell Wilson. Of course, that’s about as big of a pipe dream as Rodgers. It seems ludicrous to believe that the Seahawks would willingly move on from their franchise quarterback without a transition plan in place. Plus, there’s no guarantee that Wilson would agree to come to Denver, something he’d have to do since he has a no-trade clause in his contract.
That leaves a bunch of tier-two (at best) free agents, a troubled superstar, a much-maligned incumbent and an underwhelming class of rookies. It’s not a great time to need a quarterback.
Marcus Mariota, Mitchell Trubisky and Jameis Winston top the list of free-agent quarterbacks available. All were taken atop their respective drafts, so they certainly have talent. But each will be moving on to their third team if they leave their current situation, which is a troubling sign. In a QB-desperate leagues, teams don’t usually let competent signal callers walk out the door.
Deshaun Watson is the mysterious option on the table. No one knows for sure what the Texans are going to do with their quarterback, as he works his way through 22 allegations of sexual assault. Watson missed the entire 2021 campaign and a suspension could be in the offing once he does return to play.
Matt Corral, Kenny Pickett and Malik Willis are the top options available in the 2022 NFL Draft. But none are considered sure-fire prospects. Most experts believe none of the three would’ve been taken in the first round a year ago, when Paton passed on Justin Fields and Mac Jones when both were still on the board at No. 9. It’s hard to imagine the GM reaching this year at the same spot.
That leaves Drew Lock. He’s on the roster. He’s relatively inexpensive. And there is a bit of intrigue surrounding him.
As Klis mentioned, the quarterback did have some success during his rookie season under Rich Scangarello. That was in an offense similar to what Nathaniel Hackett brings to Denver. So there’s the potential that the new coach can resuscitate the young QB’s career.
Barring something totally unforeseen, those are the options. That’s what’s on the shelves when Paton goes shopping for a quarterback this offseason.
The Aaron Rodgers saga is finally over. That’s the good news.
Now, the Broncos have to deal with the bad news. The reality check of needing a plan B is now upon them.
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