The San Francisco 49ers face another offseason facing a mountain of uncertainty at quarterback, and at least one option appears to be off the table: a trade for Aaron Rodgers.
That is, if Rodgers’ comments while golfing at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Thursday are to be believed.
Rodgers participated a cheeky exchange in the air with tournament host Colt Knost as he lined up to tee off, with Knost laughing as he asked Rodgers if he had “any news to share” in reference to Rodgers’ stated uncertainty about whether he will retire and return to the Green. Bay Packers or try to look for a trade elsewhere.
With a smile and a laugh, Rodgers replied, “I’m not going to San Fran.”
Knost, evidently a Dallas Cowboys fan, told Rodgers that he would look great with a Cowboys star on his head as Rodgers prepared for his golf swing, to which Rodgers did not respond.
Knost’s sentiment has been echoed by another Cowboys fan: Skip Bayless.
“You better believe I want Aaron Rodgers to replace Dak”
However, such a move seems unlikely. Current Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is owed $31 million in guaranteed salary next season and moving on him would leave Dallas with more than $58 million in dead cap.
As for the 49ers, their quarterback situation is wide open after suffering major injuries to Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy during the 2022 season. Lance and Purdy will remain under contract, but with many questions after the ankle injury Lance in Week 2 that required season-ending surgery and Purdy’s torn UCL in the NFC Championship Game.
Aaron Rodgers dismisses 49ers ‘I’m not going to San Fran’, good or bad idea?
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he does not foresee a scenario where the veteran Garoppolo, who will be a free agent, returns to the team. Meanwhile, another veteran 49ers free agent target, Tom Brady (who, like Rodgers, hails from Northern California), announced his retirement from the NFL “for good” on Wednesday.
But with Rodgers also under contract for nearly $60 million guaranteed through 2023, the Packers control where to send him via a potential trade, and Rodgers himself reportedly doesn’t have the leverage of an opt-out clause. non marketing. If the Packers move on from Rodgers, which is looking increasingly likely, the 49ers and Cowboys would be off the table anyway, as Green Bay doesn’t want to ship him to another NFC team. by ESPN.
[Packers reportedly prefer to move on from Aaron Rodgers]
Why Aaron Rodgers to Raiders Makes Sense for Both Sides Packers
But there are other potential destinations in the AFC, including two with strong connections to Rodgers and notable questions at quarterback: the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets. The Raiders have star wide receiver Davante Adams and the Jets recently hired Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator.
Adams was Rodgers’ top pass catcher and Hackett the Packers’ offensive coordinator during Rodgers’ back-to-back MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021. Rodgers has publicly praised both men several times since leaving Green Bay. Adams also recently responded on Twitter when a fan asked which Las Vegas-area neighborhood Rodgers would be moving to, simply tweeting “Mine.”
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