Aaron Rodgers is returning to the Green Bay Packers organization for the upcoming NFL season. However, at the looks of his newly restructured contract, the Chicago Bears should be able to benefit in the future.
Rodgers’s contract is extremely uncanny. No other athlete in the world could create a contract like this. Adam Schefter reported multiple stipulations to Rodgers’s redrafted contract for the upcoming season.
“The 2023 year in Rodgers’ contract — the last one in his current deal — would be voided, with no tags allowed in the future,” Adam Schefter explained in a bullet-point presentation.
The Packers agree to review Rodgers’ situation at the end of this season. Rodgers’ contract would give the Packers more cap room. Mechanisms will be put in place to address Rodgers’ issues with the team. To be specific, Rodgers will not have to speak with general manager Brian Gutekunst.
According to Spotrac, the team can save $22.6 million in the cap if he is traded or released next offseason.
If Packers’ officials sign off on their willingness to trade Aaron Rodgers, and the agreement is finalized soon, here’s the biggest concession the reigning MVP will receive: the freedom to decide where he wants to play in 2022.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2021
Schefter explains this contract best by saying that Rodgers “will receive the freedom to decide where he wants to play in 2022.” It looks like this is the last dance for Rodgers in Green Bay.
It’s within the organization’s interest to trade Rodgers next offseason to save themselves from a cap nightmare that comes without Rodgers under center.
This contract seems like a temporary resolution to the relationship between Green Bay and Rodgers to see if they will come to their senses of firing Gutekunst — which was Rodgers’s only request in this entire debacle.
There is still a chance Rodgers could stay in Green Bay past this season because he essentially has a player option in his contract for the 2022 season.
Given the chance that Rodgers could return for the next two seasons, the Packers have already started negotiating a contract extension for Davante Adams, who has reported to be interested in an extension with his quarterback guaranteed to return next season.
With Aaron Rodgers expected to return to Green Bay while giving the Packers more cap room, the team now can make another run at trying to sign WR Davante Adams to an extension, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2021
To describe Green Bay’s situation as “hectic” would be a complete understatement. They are tied to an otherworldly contract that keeps their MVP quarterback around for only one year and is still trying to keep arguably the league’s best receiver on the team too.
Where do the Bears factor into this situation?
The Chicago Bears have two situations to keep in mind for the proceeding future.
Situation #1: Plan for a weakened division
It seems unlikely that Rodgers will compete in the NFC North following this season. Packers CEO Mark Murphy has stated on multiple occasions that they are committed to Guteknust, and they proved that by waiting out Rodgers in this situation.
That being said, if Guteknust is in Green Bay next offseason, Rodgers most likely isn’t.
The Bears need to start setting their sights on winning the NFC North for a playoff bid. The North would look like the NFC East if Rodgers leaves.
The Detroit Lions are in complete disarray, charted by many sportsbooks as the most likely team to have the worst record in the NFL last season. The Vikings are a defensive mess, giving up 29.7 points per game last season. And, the Packers are nothing without Rodgers and Adams.
Behind the young talent of Justin Fields, David Montgomery, Roquan Smith, Jaylon Johnson, etc., this team could have a bright future dominating the division.
The key to that success? Roster building and coaching evaluation.
Ryan Pace has done an excellent job this offseason building the roster, especially on the offensive side. The wide receiver core is deep with the speed that fits Nagy’s offense (Byrd, Goodwin, Newsome), the running back room is dynamic and deep (Williams, Herbert, Cohen), and the offensive line is growing (Jenkins and Borom).
The defense is going to need help soon. With Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevethan, Robert Quinn, and even Khalil Mack all growing older, the defense is going to need some rebuilding soon.
As far as coaching evaluation, 99.9 percent of Chicago Bears fans probably would have voted to fire Nagy after last season’s performance. But, owner George McCaskey decided to keep him on board.
This cannot be a problem moving forward. The Bears need to figure out if Nagy is their Super Bowl-winning coach after this season, to prep for a Rodger-less division.
Situation #2: Davante Adams
According to Bleacher Report writer Brad Gagnon, Davante Adams could end up on one of six teams next offseason as a free agent. One of them could be the Bears.
The biggest indicator of this possibility is the Bears’ projected cap space next offseason, which Gagnon remarked could be north of $37 million.
Plus, Allen Robinson is destined to hit the open market next offseason and explore a team that won’t cut him short of what he deserves. This makes Adams to Chicago is a bigger possibility.
Even though the Packers and Adams are talking through an extension, it’s unclear whether or not he will stay in Green Bay dependent on Rodgers.
The next offseason, with the Bears no longer in a major cap jam like they were this past offseason, they should be looking to strike big with the best receiver in the game if given the opportunity.
The Bears’ future in the division looks bright for keeping Rodgers off the schedule twice per year in the coming future. The young offense of the Bears should be ready to take over as soon as 2022.
