Aaron Rodgers to the Denver Broncos? That would be an absolute nightmare for the Las Vegas Raiders in the AFC West.
The NFL was in shock from reports that Aaron Rodgers wanted out of Green Bay, listing the Denver Broncos as a preferred trade destination. That would be a nightmare scenario for the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s difficult to overshadow the excitement of Day 1 of the NFL Draft, but there was certainly a contender as of yesterday. As coaching staffs and front offices were in preparation for the first round of the 2021 draft, Aaron Rodgers dominated the headlines before hearing the first overall pick.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers has become so disgruntled that he reportedly has told some within the organization that he no longer wishes to return to play for the Green Bay Packers.
The report set the league ablaze, and the fire only increased with a follow-up update not long after. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, an unimpeachable source told him that Rodgers’ wish list of destinations was the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, and the Las Vegas Raiders (not necessarily in that order).
The 49ers seem to be set at quarterback for both the present and future with Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster and with San Francisco drafting Trey Lance third overall in the first round, respectively. Las Vegas has Derek Carr coming off his statistically best season and with a glaring need to address the defense at almost every position.
That leaves the Broncos potentially in play, and an arrival of Rodgers in Denver would be a nightmare for the Raiders.
The quarterback position is a glaring need that the Broncos must address, and offseason moves have signaled they’re doing just that. They traded for veteran Teddy Bridgewater to ignite some competition with presumed starter Drew Lock, but anyone would agree that Rodgers is a significant upgrade over both.
Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Noah Fant are all dangerous threats that would benefit greatly from Aaron Rodgers throwing the ball, and that would give Denver a scary combination on offense. With Von Miller returning and the defense welcoming rookie Patrick Surtain II, that unit could potentially live up to the expectations from last season. They would suddenly make for a legitimate threat in the AFC West.
That potential spells nightmare for Las Vegas, who would face Rodgers twice a season for the foreseeable future. Not to mention the Raiders also deal with Patrick Mahomes twice a season, and with Justin Herbert already proving to be a franchise quarterback, a Rodgers arrival in the AFC West suddenly makes the division one of the most competitive.
Time will tell if Rodgers gets his wish or if tensions can be cooled as we inch closer to training camp, but the potential of a Rodgers-Broncos pairing has the potential to echo when Denver signed Peyton Manning back in 2012. They filled a need and propelled that roster to contention. A similar path with Rodgers would be a dream for the Broncos, and a nightmare for the Raiders.