Green Bay Packers general manger Brian Gutekunst spoke to media members at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis Tuesday, where he offered up new information on trade talks involving QB Aaron Rodgers.
The day’s biggest reveal came after Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel asked Gutekunst how many rival general managers had already reached out to inquire as to the asking price for Rodgers in a potential deal.
“Not a one,” Gutekunst replied. “Not one.”
Just because teams have yet to make official any inquiries on the topic of Rodgers does not mean that proposals from across the league aren’t locked, loaded and ready to deliver should the trade floodgates suddenly swing open in Green Bay. That could happen any day with an announcement from Rodgers himself, depending on what the quarterback has to say about his future. Silverstein offered educated speculation Tuesday that amounted to as much.
“I’ll bet that changes by the end of the week,” Silverstein wrote in reference to Gutekunst’s revelation that no trade offers for Rodgers had yet been submitted to his front office.
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Packers Waiting on Rodgers Before Implementing Offseason Plans
GettyQuarterback Aaron Rodgers (right), of the Green Bay Packers, congratulates Davante Adams (left) after a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at Lambeau Field on December 27, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
As anxious as the rest of the NFL is to hear from Rodgers on his desires for the future, the Packers are even more interested as team leadership continues to circle its offseason in a holding pattern.
ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported that Rodgers will, at some point this week, announce publicly whether he desires a return to Green Bay or will request a trade. She added that there were “multiple teams with offers on the table” for the two-time reigning NFL MVP. Though, the GMs behind them have yet to explicitly extend those offers to the Packers front office, according to Gutekunst.
“[There are] no new updates,” Gutekunst said Tuesday in reference to Rodgers’ plans.
However, the Packers GM added that he is hopeful the team will learn Rodgers’ thinking, one way or another, before the free agency period officially opens March 16.
“There’s a lot of decisions that have to be made before that, so that would be helpful,” Gutekunst continued. “I would think we would know something before then.”
Rodgers’ Decision Tied to WR Davante Adams’ Future With Packers
Getty Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, of the Green Bay Packers, is introduced before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field on December 25, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Gutekunst elaborated further that Rodgers will be the first real domino to fall in Green Bay this offseason.
“Obviously, we’re planning for a lot of different scenarios,” Gutekunst said. “But certainly once we get the situation with [Rodgers] figured out, then everything can kind of follow.”
Included in the “everything” the Packers GM mentioned is the future contract, or lack thereof, for All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams. The wideout hits unrestricted free agency a little more than two weeks from now unless Green Bay decides to employ the use of the franchise tag to retain him for next season. The deadline for that decision is March 8.
While connected to one another, Gutekunst made a point of noting that the contract dealings with Rodgers and those with his top receiving target remain separate sets of circumstances.
“Obviously we’d like to know [Rodgers’ preferences] as soon as we can because it helps for planning moving forward,” Gutekunst continued. “But those two situations are completely different. They’re two different players, both great in their own right, and we’re lucky to have them. Hopefully we’ll be able to have them both [back], but they’re separate [situations].”
Rodgers has said on multiple occasions that he will make clear his playing preferences for the future before free agency kicks off. The Packers have the QB under contract through 2022, after which Rodgers will have the freedom to depart Green Bay of his own accord and choose a new team entirely on his own.
The current backup quarterback on the Packers roster is Jordan Love, who has played in six games and registered one start through two NFL seasons.
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Packers GM Makes Revelation on Aaron Rodgers Trade Talks