What Adam Schefter’s Aaron Rodgers trade update means for the Bucs
By Josh Hill
Tom Brady isn’t the only quarterback with an uncertain future in the NFL. Heck, he’s not even the only future Hall of Fame quarterback who might retire this year, as Aaron Rodgers is taking Green Bay Packers fans on yet another journey this offseason.
Rodgers might have played his last game as a Packers in Week 18, but the speculation about his future is nothing new. Two years ago he stole the NFL Draft spotlight by seemingly demanding a trade out of Green Bay, a move that never came to fruition.
But the possibility that Rodgers moves on is very real for a number of different factors. There’s his age, the insane amount of money he’s owed, and the fact that the Packers have Jordan Love waiting to take the reigns; more than ever the stars seem to be aligning for Rodgers to depart Green Bay.
When a quarterback like Rodgers becomes available, all but a handful of teams would be foolish to not consider him an option.
That includes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Imagine going from Brady to Rodgers. The Bucs defense is still in its prime, Rodgers would finally have the type of weapons that he was never given in Green Bay, and the Bucs would again be a top NFC contender.
It’s a nice thought — and it would be malpractice for Jason Licht to not do any legwork on a deal — but that’s all it might end up being.
Will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pursue an Aaron Rodgers trade?
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers will entertain the idea of trading Rodgers but only to an AFC team.
“I don’t think there’s any way the Packers would trade him in the NFC, and if they do go ahead and trade him it would be to the AFC,” Schefter said on SportsCenter. “So start having fun with all of the teams in the AFC that need quarterbacks.”
Aside from the obvious roadblock of being an NFC team, the Buccaneers don’t have the type of cap space to make a deal for Rodgers happen. It’s certainly a conversation worth having, but it’s not one that is going to last long in Tampa Bay.
The other part of this is it’s not the first time Aaron Rodgers trade rumors have been tossed around, and the lack of anything happening means we’re firmly in Boy Who Cried Wolf territory.
As mentioned before, things might be a little different this time. Schefter specifically cited the money Rodgers is owed as incentive for him to return for another season and why the Packers would be wise to move him.
“It’s hard to imagine that he’s going to retire, walk away, and surrender $110 million in guaranteed money. So that means he’s either back with Green Bay or the team explores the idea of trading him,” Schefter explained.
Schefter didn’t hardline state that the Packers were only dealing with AFC teams, but the implication was heavy — and makes sense. Regardless of conference, the Packers are going to take the best deal they can find but it sounds like any hope of the Bucs being in the running is out the window.