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Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers Rework Contract

By Paul Bretl

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs on the field before the 32-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams during the NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.Packers Rams 04827
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs on the field before the 32-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams during the NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.Packers Rams 04827 /
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Earlier today, we learned from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network that Aaron Rodgers indicated that he was going to play for the Green Bay Packers this season. Now we’ve learned what led to the change of heart.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, there were a number of concessions made on the Packers part. They are as follows:

– The 2023 season of Rodgers’ current deal will be voided, and Green Bay is unable to tag him at any point.

– The Packers and Rodgers will review this situation at the end of the season.

– Rodgers’ contract will be “adjusted” to create additional cap space in 2021, but Rodgers won’t lose any income.

– “Mechanisms” will be put in place to address Rodgers’ issues.

So what does all of this mean for the Green Bay Packers and Rodgers? Well, let’s start from the top.

Instead of the 2023 season being Rodgers’ last with the team per his contract, it is now 2022 because of the voided year. At that point, the two parties will review where they stand, but in all like likelihood, this is Rodgers’ last year in Green Bay.

If things have been as bad as indicated, it’s hard to imagine that Rodgers will feel any better about things six months from now—but you never know. From the Packers’ perspective, if they don’t trade Rodgers next offseason and he plays out the 2022 season in Green Bay, he then becomes a free agent at the end of that year, and Green Bay gets nothing in return for him—that’s not exactly ideal.

At this time, we don’t know the details, but by restructuring the 2021 portion of Rodgers’ deal, the team was able to free up some much-needed cap space this year.

With a $14.7 million base salary in 2021, Green Bay can convert as much of that as needed to a signing bonus, which frees up cap space this season but pushes those charges to 2022—meaning Rodgers cap hit next year will increase.

Lastly, as far as what those “mechanisms” are that were put in place to address any issues, we may never know what that fully entails.

This is an agreement that worked out well for both sides. The Green Bay Packers get Rodgers back for one more Super Bowl run this season but still have the opportunity to trade him next offseason. Meanwhile, Rodgers has control over his future, with a likely way out in 2022 via trade.

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