Derek Carr is out, and the Las Vegas Raiders are officially in the QB market. What’s Aaron Rodgers up to these days?
It’s not every day the [soon-to-be dethroned] back-to-back reigning MVP is up for grabs. However, after a lackluster 8-9 season, there’s a real chance Aaron Rodgers could be moving onto the next chapter of his career – should he decide to keep playing football.
On Tuesday, while being featured on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers touched on his future in the NFL. “I still need to mentally get to the point where I feel 100% locked in and ready to play a 19th season,” the four-time MVP stated. “If I do, we’ll rock-and-roll and figure that out.”
But Rodgers’ former teammate A.J. Hawk isn’t buying the possibility of the Green Bay quarterback’s retirement, and Rodgers isn’t disagreeing with Hawk’s skepticism. There is, however, clear uncertainty in a return with the Packers.
“If there’s a rebuild going on, I won’t be a part of it,” Rodgers replied when asked if he’d stay with the team through youth movement. In fact, the 39-year-old implied he won’t be returning to the Packers next season if he feels the team can’t win it all.
What about Rodgers himself, though? Does Aaron Rodgers still think he can play football at a high-level?
“Do I still think I can play? Of course. Can I play at a high-level? Yeah – the highest; I think I can win MVP again,” Rodgers told McAfee on Tuesday’s show. “In the right situation… is that Green Bay or is that somewhere else? I’m not sure.”
Perhaps that “right situation” is with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Aaron Rodgers and the Las Vegas Raiders – the breakdown
There may not be a better team suited to Rodgers than the Silver and Black. The Davante Adams part is obvious; Adams logged 2,927 receiving yards with 29 touchdowns during his last 30 contests with the Packers, virtually averaging 100 yards and a score per game over a two-year period. That’s not the only reason this pairing is perfect, though.
Hunter Renfrow, the Raiders’ starting slot receiver, has a skill set very similar to Jordy Nelson – Rodgers’ favorite weapon over his lengthy career.
While Jordy was bigger and faster – and straight up more athletic – Renfrow still brings a lot of the same things to the table as Nelson did. It’s not an otherworldly talent that makes the two comparable, but rather exceptional fundamentals and sky-high football IQ. Both of these players are adept at creating space on routes, have both the hands and body control to haul in most passes in their catch radius, and above all, have a ridiculous understanding of where to be and what to do when things don’t go as planned.
Perhaps the best trait Jordy Nelson possessed was knowing where to be when things broke down. Nelson knew where to set up shop so Rodgers could find him, having a tremendous feel when going off-script so he can not only find space, but be in a place where he makes his quarterbacks’ life easier.
Hunter Renfrow has that same understanding. When Carr had to get the ball out in a hurry, he often looked Renfrow’s way, who was frequently able to get in a spot where Carr could find him and deliver the ball.
And then there’s Josh Jacobs, who led the NFL in rushing yards this season by over 100. Now, onto Aaron Rodgers himself.
Rodgers’ ’22 campaign goes under-the-radar
Over the years, the NFL world has grown accustomed to Green Bay posting great records with Rodgers under center. During the 13 seasons their QB1 played at least 15 contests, the Packers finished with double-digit wins 10-of-13 times. When the team fails to hit that mark, fans begin to doubt if Rodgers still has it. Such was the case after the 2018 season, and again this year following the Packers’ 8-9 record.
But, contrary to belief, Rodgers had a fine ’22 campaign.
Not only was Rodgers’ 80.6% on-target percentage the second-highest league-wide, but his 5.7% “big-time throw” percentage – passes with “excellent ball location and timing” – also ranked second-highest among starting quarterbacks this season. The future Hall of Famer rarely put the ball in harm’s way, recording a lowly turnover-worthy percentage of 2.9%.
When blitzed, Rodgers led all starting QBs with a big-time throw percentage of 6.5%. The legendary signal caller posted a turnover-worthy play of just 1.8% under such circumstances, earning the second-highest grade via PFF when defenses bring pressure.
*Top Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports