Derek Carr is the Raiders’ starting quarterback. However, could that change if Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers suddenly became available?
After a crushing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game, Rodgers was brutally honest about his future. He said it was uncertain whether he and other players would be back with the team in 2021. This quote rings evermore true when you consider that the Packers drafted Jordan Love in 2020, immediately prompting questions about where the eventual Hall of Famer will be playing next.
How would Aaron Rodgers mesh with Jon Gruden?
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has long loved Aaron Rodgers. He would often gush about him in his time as an announcer for ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast. Personality-wise it seems like ‘Chucky’ and Rodgers would mesh well.
Aaron Rodgers connects with MVS for a 50-yard touchdown pass!
🈠(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/bXIWPNZoUL
— #RingerNFL (@ringernfl) January 24, 2021
Rodgers is one of the few players who can fit into any scheme, including Gruden’s. He still has top-shelf arm talent and uncanny ability to not make mistakes. Simply, he would be the most talented quarterback the Raiders have had in a very long time. Also, Rodgers would play in one of the better offenses he has ever been in. His surrounding cast would consist of tight end Darren Waller, running back Josh Jacobs, a good offensive line and talented young receivers.
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Aaron Rodgers would immediately make the Raiders better
At this point of Rodgers’ career, a trade would be almost unprecedented. Contrary to a potential Deshaun Watson deal, Derek Carr has no value to the Packers. They already have Jordan Love on the roster and aren’t in short-term need of a signal-caller. In the end, this is a deal that might cost the Raiders two first-round picks and potentially a second or third-round selection as well.
All of this would likely be a worthwhile investment for the Silver and Black. Rodgers would immediately take Las Vegas’ already loaded offense to the next level. Moreover, the quarterback could become a face-of-the-franchise type of player for the next three to four years.
If the Raiders traded for Rodgers, what would happen to Carr? The eighth-year quarterback could fetch a first-round pick from a team. However, he’s much more likely to return a day two pick from teams such as Indianapolis, Chicago, and Washington which could help soften the blow of giving away all that draft capital.
The odds are currently low
While the odds are slim on whether or not the Packers will be moving on from Rodgers this offseason, the more unlikely situation is if the Raiders would give up the draft capital required and actually move on from Carr. Gruden and ‘4’ are very close, but if there were a quarterback that could convince Gruden to move on, it would be the Rodgers, the one he was long infatuated with.
It is time to consider moving on from Carr and if the opportunity to acquire a future Hall of Famer at quarterback were to present himself, the Raiders would be crazy to not redeem the mistake of the 2005 NFL Draft and put Rodgers in Silver and Black.
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