The Denver Discount Double-Checks?
Aaron Rodgers reportedly wants out of Green Bay, with three trade destinations surfacing with the initial report: the 49ers, Raiders and Broncos.
MORE: Detailing the rift between Rodgers and the Packers
While NFL fans might be confused why the Raiders and Broncos would be roped in with the 49ers, Rodgers supposedly has a few, very specific reasons why he would want to head out to Denver.
Here they are:
Why does Aaron Rodgers want to go to the Broncos?
According to NFL analyst and commentator Rich Eisen, there are two reasons that Rodgers wants to head to the Mile High City: The weaponry and the rivalry.
Speaking on a recent episode of "The Rich Eisen Show" on Peacock, Eisen opened up on the Rodgers-to-Denver rumors, saying that Denver's offensive skill group and Rodgers' desire to beat Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes are the preeminent reasons that Rodgers prefers the Broncos as a landing spot:
Interesting part of the Rich Eisen show today about Aaron Rodgers, the Broncos and the challenge of beating Patrick Mahomes. pic.twitter.com/cG7lmZRrle
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) May 3, 2021
"And I heard, he (Rodgers) would happily go to Denver," Eisen said. "'Cause they've got the weapons, they've got the spot. He doesn't care that it's in Mahomes' division. He would actually love to personally beat Mahomes, he would love to send Mahomes to the wild card every year — this is what I've been told."
Rodgers and Mahomes share a few things: They're both Super Bowl champs, they're two of the baddest dudes in the NFL and they split time in State Farm commercials.
In the words of Ric Flair, to be the man you gotta beat the man, and Mahomes' ascension to the top as the league's most prominent passer could provide enough fuel for Rodgers to knock him off his spot twice a year.
But aside from wanting to capture the division from Mahomes, Denver's weaponry is among the best in the AFC, providing a tantalizing offensive group for Rodgers to dream about: Wide receivers KJ Hamler, Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, tight end Noah Fant and running back Melvin Gordon provide a great skill position cast.
While the AFC West will still be a difficult division to navigate — Mahomes and the Chiefs, Justin Herbert and the Chargers chief reasons why — Rodgers could make the division the one to watch in 2021 … if a trade eventually comes to pass.
