In his latest column discussing Rodgers’ looming salary bump, Rob Demovsky of
ESPN put everything into bleak focus. Unless the quarterback retires, the team faces a lose-lose situation in 2023 if they want to move on.
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Cutting him is out of the question.
THIS IS THE LEAST LIKELY SCENARIO, ESPECIALLY BEFORE JUNE 1, BECAUSE THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY RODGERS THE OPTION BONUS AND HIS 2023 BASE SALARY.
THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO COUNT MORE THAN $99 MILLION IN DEAD MONEY ON THEIR 2023 CAP, WHICH IS UNTENABLE. WAITING UNTIL AFTER JUNE 1 WOULD ACTUALLY PROVIDE A NET SALARY-CAP SAVINGS OF $50,000, EVEN THOUGH THE DEAD-MONEY HIT WOULD BE MORE THAN $31.5 MILLION IN 2023 AND MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT IN 2024.
IT WOULD ALSO MEAN THE PACKERS WOULD RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION (E.G., DRAFT PICKS) IF RODGERS WERE TO PLAY FOR ANOTHER TEAM AFTER HIS RELEASE.
No problem, right? They can merely entertain teams in trade talks. Certainly, somebody will want to take the future Hall of Famer. Nope. Even that is almost impossible at this point.
ONE SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONTRACT BELIEVES THE BEST WAY TO TRADE RODGERS, ESPECIALLY BEFORE JUNE 1, WOULD BE FOR A PLAYER WITH A SIMILAR CONTRACT BECAUSE OF ALL THE DEAD MONEY INVOLVED AND SUGGESTED A PLAYER LIKE RUSSELL WILSON WOULD FIT THAT DESCRIPTION.
“THE ONLY REAL WAY TO TRADE HIM BEFORE JUNE 1 IS FOR ANOTHER PLAYER WITH A BAD CONTRACT,” THE SOURCE SAID. “AND THAT WON’T HAPPEN.”
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