The Denver Broncos are set to cross paths with Aaron Rodgers for the first time since he has been the starting quarterback of the New York Jets. It was not too long ago when Rodgers was very close to becoming the starting quarterback of the Broncos.
During the 2021 NFL Draft, Adam Schefter reported that the Broncos were discussing a trade to acquire Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. The Broncos had the No. 9 overall pick in that draft and could have taken someone like Justin Fields. Instead, they drafted cornerback Pat Surtain II.
The door was open for the team to acquire Rodgers and it was the hottest rumor in the NFL. There were many people within the media who believed the deal would get done.
"The Denver Broncos are going to get Aaron Rodgers. They are going to bring him out to the Mile High City, they are going to sell him on the idea that he can do what Peyton Manning did."@ClayTravis on how the Packers QB will eventually be the Broncos starter on Week 1: pic.twitter.com/HQwSDJKhkd
— Bear Bets Podcast (@BearBetsPod) April 30, 2021
But it never did. Instead, the Packers adamantly stated that Rodgers was not on the trade market. He didn't seem like he wanted to play there anymore, but the trade never happened. Whether the Broncos just weren't able to meet their demands or if they just truly weren't going to trade Rodgers, we'll never know.
But what if that trade did happen? How different would things have been for the course of history in Denver? Let's take a look at a timeline.
Denver Broncos timeline: Summer of 2021
Though Rodgers ended up being traded to the New York Jets ahead of the 2023 season, the Broncos would have had to give up considerably more had they made the move in 2021. In fact, it would have been a bigger deal than what they gave up for Russell Wilson one year later.
Broncos receive: QB Aaron Rodgers
Packers receive: QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, 2023 third-round pick
The Packers would have received a king's ransom for the legendary passer, but it would have still been seen as a steal because the Broncos would have had one of the best quarterbacks in the league. It's easy to use hindsight and say it would have been a terrible deal, but in 2021, it wouldn't have been.
Remember how excited Broncos Country was when the team traded for Russell Wilson? That would have been even bigger had it been Rodgers.
The Broncos went 7-10 in 2021. Not a terrible record, but obviously not good enough to be in the playoffs. With Rodgers, things would have been vastly different.
With Rodgers at the helm, the Broncos go 12-5 and win the AFC West division, making the Kansas City Chiefs a Wild Card. They defeat Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs before losing at home in the divisional round to a red-hot Buffalo Bills squad and Josh Allen.
That would have been a disappointing defeat, but the Broncos are obviously on the right track.
Denver Broncos timeline: 2022 offseason
Had Rodgers been traded to Denver, this is where the biggest changes would have come.
After going 12-5 and making it to the divisional round of the playoffs, the Broncos retain Vic Fangio as their head coach and never bring in Nathaniel Hackett, despite his connection to Rodgers.
The horrendous Russell Wilson trade never takes place and the subsequent contract extension, which was even worse, never happens. The Broncos are still out some draft picks from the Rodgers deal, but they are in a much better situation financially.
Russell Wilson confirms the #Broncos told him on October 29th that he would be benched for the rest of the season if he didn’t restructure his contract.
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 29, 2023
(Via: @TroyRenck) pic.twitter.com/ayauOvliaw
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Though Fangio is still somewhat shaky as a head coach, the Broncos are able to mask a lot of that due to the talent of Rodgers.
The Broncos put together another fantastic season and contend for the Super Bowl.
Denver Broncos timeline: 2023 offseason
As long as the Broncos are contending, there is no reason for a coaching change, so the Sean Payton deal never happens either. Rodgers is approaching 40 years old by this point and the Broncos recognize they need to have an eye on the future. So when Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, once touted as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, slips into the second round, the Broncos nad him as the quarterback of the future.
Things have not been terrific for Levis in Tennessee, but in Denver, with a year or two behind Rodgers, he could be quite successful.
The Broncos have another good year, but the Chiefs win the division and they have to settle for a Wild Card. After suffering a playoff loss to a surprising Houston Texans team, the team decides to part ways with Fangio, despite his success (much like when John Fox was relieved of his duties).
The Broncos then become the team to hire Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. You'll remember that he was a hot name in this offseason's coaching cycle but he turned down interviews in Carolina and Washington as he wants to wait for the right opportunity.
With another year or two left for Rodgers, Johnson would have seen the Broncos as an attractive opening and taken the job.
Denver Broncos timeline: 2024 NFL Draft
Down a bit further than they were in actuality, the Broncos do not draft Bo Nix and the quarterback situation in the first round is completely different. This allows tight end Brock Bowers to fall to Denver's spot and he becomes the pick.
"I don't think it's the worst thing in the world if you got Brock Bowers at 12"
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) April 23, 2024
— @JamesPalmerTV on what the Broncos will do with the 12th pick. pic.twitter.com/PLAMas1LYl
Now you have Johnson as the head coach and Aaron Rodgers is throwing to Courtland Sutton and Brock Bowers. It would have been a lot more enticing for free agents to come to Denver during this period of time than it really was and the entire roster looks different... and better.
Denver Broncos timeline: Present day
Despite some terrible decisions, the Broncos have recovered well and most of Broncos Country will likely be inclined to believe that the team is headed in the right direction behind Payton and Nix.
With Rodgers and the timeline described above, there would have been much more success and far less heartache. There would have been playoff games and Super Bowl talk. And, he would still be playing at a high level.
Would the future of the team be brighter than it currently is? That is debatable. But it's a fun discussion, to be sure.
The Broncos will get a chance to look across the field and see what could have been, good or bad when they face the Jets on Sunday.
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