How long can Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love exist on the same roster?
Aaron Rodgers will turn 39 years old this December. That’s old by NFL standards, even at the quarterback position. Tom Brady has managed to play at 45, but he’s an outlier in age and success. Brady’s current age is one Rodgers has said he won’t want to play football at. Could the Packers want him to be done with his career sooner?
The Packers may look forward to a future without Rodgers in the next few years. Even with Rodgers playing at an MVP level, it seems prudent for the Packers to plan when Rodgers doesn’t have the skills or the drive to be the team’s leader. That’s the reason the Packers drafted Jordan Love.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke with Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Gutekunst indicated in the interview that Rodgers might be capable of playing for a few more seasons. But the Packers and their future Hall of Fame quarterback are taking things yearly.
Brian Gutekunst seems confident Aaron Rodgers COULD play several more seasons if he wanted to, but tells @PeteDougherty the #Packers and Rodgers are going year-by-year.
Suggests 2-3 more years of Rodgers is highly plausible.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) September 2, 2022
This makes sense for the Packers. The team is currently juggling keeping one of the greatest quarterbacks on their roster while having drafted a first-round quarterback for the future in Love. Love would likely be more expensive after his rookie contract is up. Love’s fifth-year option is going to be in the 2024 season. Keeping the two of them well into the future won’t make sense for the Packers’ finances.
That throws the future of Jordan Love into question of course. When asked if he could envision Rodgers and Love on the team together in 2024 given the cost, Gutey says
"Anything is possible, but that would be very difficult. That scenario would be very difficult to envision."
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) September 2, 2022
Would the Packers pressure Rodgers to retire?
What the Packers do in 2024 will be interesting if Rodgers still wants to play. If Rodgers is still playing with the competency Brady did at that age, one would think the Packers would stick with the player that gives them the best chance to win a Super Bowl.
But that might mean they’d have to part with Love. Because Love has been Rodgers’ backup, it’s hard to know if the 2020 first-round pick would be a bust or not. Love’s stats have not been impressive thus far. But he might progress when he gets more regular season playing time. Not an easy decision as long as Rodgers can cut up defenses better than 26-year-old Patrick Mahomes.
Two years from now, Rodgers might not be able to do that. Drew Brees’ final season with the New Orleans Saints made the 13-time Pro Bowl quarterback look mortal. Brees retired at 42. Rodgers might not be that far behind him.
1 Comment
Matt Lafluer needs to go. He has proven that he cannot get the team to win.