ALL QUIET ON THE GREEN BAY FRONT
NFL Combine focused on Packers GM, who says he hasn’t had significant conversations with Rodgers
INDIANAPOLIS — All eyes were on Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst Tuesday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine as the entire league has been monitoring the Aaron Rodgers saga this offseason. However, Gutekunst says there has been little contact between him and Rodgers since the season ended.
“Not much to report on that one,” Gutekunst said as the GM meet with reporters two weeks ahead of the start of free agency. “We really haven’t had any conversations yet, so not a lot of answers there.
“There’s been some text communication.”
The Packers and other teams, such as the Jets and potentially the Raiders, are waiting to see if Rodgers will return for his 19th season and, if he does, where. Even if the superstar quarterback does decide to continue playing instead of retiring, the Packers are free to trade him.
“We’re going through our process as normal,” Gutekunst said. “Free agency’s coming up here, that’s an important part of what we’re doing, so it would be nice to have some answers before then, but until we have any conversations, we’re still in a good spot.”
Recently, Rodgers went on a darkness retreat in southern Oregon, according to multiple reports. On “The Pat McAfee
Show” prior to his sabbatical, Rodgers said he was scheduling four days and four nights in dark isolation to better understand where he was in his life.
Rodgers is under contract with the Packers for $59.465 million guaranteed if he plays in 2023.
Green Bay would like to know Rodgers’ answer soon as the start of free agency begins on March 15.
The team selected Jordan Love with the 26th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He had been patiently sitting behind Rodgers for three seasons, and the Packers need to decide whether they will exercise Love’s fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
They also could trade Love if Rodgers and the Packers favor a reunion between the two sides for 2023.
“We’re excited about (Love),” Gutekunst said. “I’ve expressed to a lot of people that he needs to play, that’s the next step in his progression, he needs to play. Jordan’s done a great job, worked really hard, so he’s doing everything we’re asking him.”
If Rodgers is traded, the Jets have been a prime candidate to land the former four-time NFL MVP. The Jets are looking for a veteran quarterback this offseason following two disappointing seasons from 2021 first-round pick Zach Wilson. The only other quarterback currently on the Jets roster is Chris Streveler, as Mike White and Joe Flacco, who both started games last season, are impending free agents.
The Jets have already spoken to Derek Carr this offseason, following his release by the Raiders on Feb. 14 after nine seasons with the team. Before his release, he visited with the Saints but declined to accept a pay cut to help finalize a trade, as his contract had a no-trade clause. The Jets and Carr are taking their time before moving to the next step as he is also meeting with the Saints and Panthers at the combine.
Gang Green’s No. 1 option would be Rodgers if he became available, sources told the Daily News.
When asked about a trade with the Packers, Jets general manager Joe Douglas danced around the question.
“I’ve had a lot of productive discussions with multiple GMs around the league,” Douglas said. “We have had a lot of positive discussions.