The Broncos are naming Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach, which sparks the obvious speculation as to whether Aaron Rodgers will follow him to Denver.
It’s a fun game of connect the dots.
Two weeks ago on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers publicly stumped for Hackett to get the Broncos job.
“I’m really happy for Nathaniel,” Rodgers said of Hackett getting an interview with the Broncos. “This is a little overdue, to be honest. He’s been around the game for a long time. What he did in Jacksonville I think was pure magic — getting them within a quarter of the Super Bowl. He’s a great coach. I love spending time with him. I’m really happy for him.”
With Teddy Bridgewater having been on a one-year contract, the Broncos are untethered at starting quarterback next season. Drew Lock has done little to give the Broncos a reason to give him another chance.
Additionally, the team has a stout defense with linebacker Bradley Chubb and defensive back Patrick Surtain II as stars. You can make a case that one of them could be a trade piece, while the other could stay and anchor a robust defense. Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton are nice receivers to throw to. (If you want to get really spicy, what about trading Jeudy to the Packers, while bringing in free agent Davante Adams?)
Could John Elway could sell Rodgers on being a legendary quarterback finishing his career in Denver with a Super Bowl championship? This happened not only with Elway himself, but also Peyton Manning, who won an MVP with the Broncos and then later concluded his career with an NFL title.
The Super Bowl championship odds at DraftKings for the Broncos next season have gone from 35-1 on Tuesday to 18-1 after the Hackett news was announced on Thursday.
All of this would be contingent on Rodgers deciding he is finished in Green Bay – which is certainly possible, but not yet a foregone conclusion. With the Packers about $45 million over the cap for next season, Rodgers has said he does not want to play through a rebuild. His strained relationship with GM Brian Gutekunst has been repaired, and they will work through scenarios about what comes next between now and early March.
“Everything is definitely on the table,” Rodgers said.
