Clayton: More wait and see with Rodgers, Packers as camp approaches

The Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers are a week away from the start of camp and seeing what is going to happen with the MVP quarterback.

More and more people around the league are projecting he’s going to stay a Packer. Nobody knows if he’s going to report on time. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Packers offered to give him a two-year extension and make him the highest-paid quarterback in football. Right now he’s making $33.5 million a year and has two more years remaining on his contract.

Rodgers turned down that offer this spring. What you wonder is if the Packers increase his salary but don’t put in guarantees in future years, they could cut him, take the cap hit and give the starting job to Jordan Love.

It’s not out of the question for Rodgers and the Packers to get Rodgers more money and agree to trade him next year. The Denver Broncos would be the team he could be traded to this year. If he’s available next year, the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and maybe the Pittsburgh Steelers could also be involved. Certainly the Broncos would be along for the ride.

Like the Packers did with Brett Favre, if they trade Rodgers, they probably would like to send him to an AFC team. Keeping him in the NFC could haunt the Packers at some point. The Packers sent Favre to the New York Jets.

What you also wonder about is if he is traded next year if there would be a little bit of a discount. You would think the Packers could get a No. 1 next year and a No. 2 that could upgrade to a No. 1 the following year. It won’t be like Favre, who went to the Jets for a conditional No. 4.

We’ll find out a lot more over the next week.