When Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed his historic extension about two weeks ago, the general consensus was that Rodgers was expected to retire after the 2024 NFL season. Well, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, former Packers’ executive Andrew Brandt, along with another source close to the situation, believes the contract is essentially a one-year deal for $42MM. 
A quick reminder, Rodgers’ contract is classified as a three-year, $150.82MM deal that is completely guaranteed. While the contract technically covers the next five seasons, the 2025 and 2026 years of the contract are considered to be dummy years assisting the Packers with cap management. The deal provided “new money” to Rodgers in the amount of $123.52MM over the two new additional years of 2023 and 2024.
In defense of his opinion, Brandt wrote, “Next year there are two guaranteed option bonuses, but these bonuses 1) have to be exercised by the Packers, and 2) would travel to a new team upon any trade. And with this option bonus structure, the dead money actually goes up the longer the contract goes on.”
If Rodgers retires or is traded before next year’s option, the Packers would be left with about $40MM of dead money with an essentially off-setting $59MM in nonexercised bonuses. Brandt explains, “if he were to play again for the Packers (in 2023), the dead money would rise to never-before-seen proportions.” Also supporting Brandt’s opinion is the cap effect of the extension. While the extension does decrease Rodgers’ cap hit by $18.2MM for the 2022 season, his cap hit for 2023 increases approximately $23.9MM from a previously voidable year and his 2024 cap number will total $40.7MM.
In Brandt’s eyes, all these numbers were not only visible to the Packers and Rodgers’ agent, they were negotiated that way. He sees it as an intentional manipulation of the numbers to make the veteran quarterback happy for a year and then move on. This would give back up quarterback Jordan Love a third year of development before he takes the reins. Coincidentally, that would be the same amount of time Rodgers waited before taking over for Brett Favre 15 years ago.
The Packers just breed indecisive quarterbacks
Who have won 7 mvps since 1993….I’ll deal with that part.
A lot easier path in the NFC for those MVPs
If he was in AFC he’d be lucky to have one over the years.
Doubt that his last 2 years playing have been nothing short of historic
What you’re saying makes zero sense. The MVP is a league award – not a conference award. There were many years in the past 30 where the NFC North or Central had a strong set of teams… so if your argument is that they got cupcakes 6 games a year, it’s still a shabby argument that doesn’t make any sense.
30 years of 2 straight HOF Qbs and GB has managed to win 2 super bowls…that’s an epic fail as an organization..
There are 7 QBs I think with multiple SBs. Hardly a fail. Adjust your expectations.
What other organization had 30 straight years of HOF QB play? The Giants managed 2 super bowl wins with Eli…better QB? What about Aikman..better QB…No but better organizations that prioritize winning super bowls and not the regular season..yeah it may cost a few years to rebuild but at least you won it..not GB they are content on winning one the weakest divisions in football and then choking..
Not sure why you’re so butthurt over GB and also equating a individual award (mvp) with a team award (super bowl victory).
To answer your question, id say Miami is a pretty equal answer to that question. From griese to Marino that’s 67 – 99 (with a 2 year stretch in between them) they won 2 Super Bowls in all that time (which was in the early 70s) and Marino winning 0 of them.
Please enlighten us on who your team is that is so much better ran?
That’s not consecutive years of HOF QB play is it? And didn’t Marino have to start right off the bat not sit behind another HOF QB and learn the ropes…LOL..typical packers fans can’t admit they choke….
Do 11 line up on each side of the ball?
Your false correlation of having HOF QBs and winning few championships is a weak argument to judge an organization as unsuccessful.
Were the early 90s Bills a failures? The Broncos with Elway UNTIL the late 90s also failures? What about the Colts with Manning?
If you answered yes to either, I have a real world and shades of gray for you to observe.
Oh yeah, those Braves during the 90s and early 2000s were also failures.
NO, they were great, they just didn’t win it all. Learn to be a smarter sports fan, Rod1.
LOL…the goal is to win championships and when you don’t it’s a failure. I didn’t say they weren’t great teams, yes the teams you named are great teams but ask any of the Bills or bills fans…it’s a fail when you don’t win it all…great organizations expect to win championships or all in all its a great year but still a fail. GB has had great teams but failure to finish with a championship is still a fail. Once again another GB packer fan who is good with ALMOST winning…Don’t try to insult my sports intelligence because I disagree with you. Fact, other organizations have found ways to win and every sports person judges QBs on super bowl wins, fair or not, that’s a reality. Marino was great but he gets left out of conversations for one simple reason, he never won. I bet he would trade years of great stats for 1 super bowl ring. Maybe you should raise your expectations before insulting mine, any year you don’t win should be looked at as a fail otherwise why the hell put your body and family through hell to finish without a championship. Nobody starts the year hoping to be the #1 seed and get bounced out before the super bowl but keep telling yourself GB is the best…haha
I am not a Packer fan.
I am not arguing that the ultimate goal is to not win a championship or fans won’t whine irrationally about their team not winning in any given year.
To give another sport as an example again….
The Marlins and Braves have the same number of championships since ‘95.
Yet the Braves have been far more successful. Championships are the ultimate accomplishment for a team, but they’re not the only thing. When you claim GB is a failure because of only 2 SB wins with Favre and Rodgers, that is an ignorant opinion.
If you count championships and not just Super Bowl wins, it’s not even close what organization has won the most.
Oh, and I’m a Niner fan, but I tend to back against ignorance to share a more accurate, nuanced analysis.
But I get that nuance and most sports fans don’t go together.
Did the Braves have #1 ace contending for the Cy young every year since 95? No they had some down years as well so having the same amount of championships as the marlins i can see. Calm down, I love that your opinion is “accurate” but mine saying the packers not winning more SB since 1993 is a failure. I NEVER said the packers didn’t have great teams but it is absolutely a fail when you don’t win it all with an MVP level QB for the last 30 years. Did you expect the niners to win with Montana and Young. Absolutely I bet you did and when they didn’t win the SB that year it was a great year but still fell short of the goal, which is a failure. Your sensitivity to the word failure is hilarious. Great teams fail every year, it’s ok it gives you motivation to come back and try again. You think Rodgers is coming back to win the NFC north and get beat in the playoffs and he would be happy..I doubt it
The dumbest argument you can make is “if you don’t win a championship then you’re a failure”. So Tom Brady has played 20 full NFL seasons and won 7 championships. So for the majority of his career he was a failure? Dumb.
What is Tom Bradys goal every year? Win the super bowl..correct? Once again don’t take the word failure so hard..if your not playing to win then why play…I love that no one can admit to the word failure, I have NEVER said any of you are dumb or attacked you but man get over yourself…EVERY players ultimate goal is winning a championship all I’m saying is anything less hurts..but hey this is what we’ve become…I didn’t know you all were so sensitive no wonder your just on here throwing your “accurate” and ” smart” opinions out but boy oh boy I guess failure is a trigger word around here…guess what everyone on here has failed at something…instead of crying about it work hard to try to prevent it next time..that’s what every player is doing…that’s how they have made it this far…not crying cuz someone said they failed to reach their goal at that particular point…
The word failure isn’t a gray area word. It’s not taking a word too hard. It’s using the word exactly for its intended purpose. So you’re either so dense that you don’t get that or you’re intentionally being thick headed.
Having a goal of winning a SB is most teams goals, though it should be every teams goal. But to say these are failures is just an oversimplification you’re intentionally or unintentionally doing and either way everyone but you agrees it’s kind of stupid.
Jumping to “trigger” words and talking about crying kind of invalidates any point you try to make. You can’t actually support your stance other than with a ridiculous oversimplification so it’s personal stuff. High five bud. Super cool.
LOL..sensitive little fella aren’t you!!Here is your participation award you would like…way to join the pussification of America..when your goal is to win and you don’t you still can be considered great and it was a great season BUT you didn’t reach your ultimate goal…but it’s ok kyle says you didn’t fail..Congrats to the packers for winning the Kyle bowl..I’m sure Rodgers appreciates that title…you guys are right…this thread is for pussies who can’t get just say most of their teams didn’t reach their ultimate goal they can try next year..and hell if you don’t win the super bowl the kyle bowl is good for too…at least you tried..Super cool
Ok so what would you like to call the past few seasons for the packers? Great…sure!! Then everyone should be happy when they lost at home after having the #1 seed in the NFC..sorry I’ll rephrase my original comment then..having 30 straight years of HOF QB play and only managing 2 super bowl titles is an epic greatness..better?
LOL…the nit picking is HILARIOUS!
Just say, “uh….I have no answer, next.”
So it seems like all this dude is good for are individual rewards that don’t really help Green Bay or their fans very much.
Indecisive..absolutely true regarding Favre.
As for Rodgers, based almost entirely on stories made up by people who get paid to make up stories, because people like you buy it every time, despite the so called facts changing with every new story.
This is exactly correct. For almost a year now the media has gotten it wrong on most things when it comes to Rodgers. Now that they can’t milk the controversy of “will Rodgers leave?” they are switching to this.
By the way, I saw Andrew Brandt talk to Rich Eisen on his show when the signing was first announced and no one actually knew the details. He said then that it was really a 1 year deal due to certain mechanisms in the contract that were shown not to be present. These guys need to admit when they are wrong and stop with the Jon Hayman style of journalism.
@Black Ace- But what exactly is wrong here? Are you suggesting Brandt is exaggerating these numbers? The idea of Rodgers walking after this season makes a lot of sense in theory. He’s had an offseason to see how Gutenkust responds to his decision and Gutenkust goes and trades away his #1 WR and allows his #2 to walk.
Wouldn’t shock me if Rodgers bolts after this season.
There is no chance Rodgers didn’t know that Tae was leaving. His desire to move closer to home and play with his best friend Carr has been talked about for years. Rodgers may have re-upped under the expectation higher emphasis would be placed at wr in the draft or fa replacements brought in, but make no mistake he knew what would happen with Tae or he wouldn’t have signed the contract. Tae leaving was not news to Rodgers
And not only that – you could see it coming when Davante bought a $12M house in Vegas, weeks before the trade.
Oh yeah, it was already reported Rodgers knew Adams was on his way out, but I’m sure he also expected some solutions to their personnel issues.
What I’m saying is Brandt was already shown a few weeks ago to be giving opinions on his contract without any evidence. He cited mechanisms in the contract being there that were shown to not be present. He did this before anyone knew what was in it. That shows lack of credibility.
No, those mechanisms ARE in the contract that would allow Rodgers to leave next year…they’re ALSO in there so that the Packers can continue to convert the salary or roster bonus to signing bonus and spread it out over 5 years and lower his cap hit the next several years.
Go to spotrac and look at the deal. Those mechanisms are ABSOLUTELY in place.
If they want to trade Rodgers next year, they could do so due to the roster bonuses. Once they pick up next years, they’re guaranteeing the 2025 roster bonus, base salary bringing the cap hit to ~58M.
Which means, they could still trade him after this year, ONLY be responsible for the signing bonus(which would result in a cap hit of roughly 40M in dead money for the PACKERS and then another team could pick up that money…OR Rodgers could retire and then not collect).
It’s not really a year to year deal, but it gives Rodgers all the power here…unless the Packers just decide to bail after this year…and that’d be SOOO stupid when you consider they could have picked up 5-6 early draft picks and helped to rebuild this team in 2-3 years.
So it basically ensures the Rodgers is happy with the direction the Packers are going…and then it ALSO gives them plenty of mechanisms to pay Rodgers while also making it possible to create salary cap rooms.
What will almost certainly end up happening…Rodgers will play a couple more years, he’ll retire. AT that point the Packers will give Rodgers a new contract, minimum base salary and then spread out his bonus money over 2-3 or even 5 years at that point(that’s as far as you can spread out money owed). So they’ll break that cap hit down by 20 pct or they can spend a year in cap purgatory, eat it all at once and be done with it.
This is a VERY unique deal with the team options triggering future guarantees and the money already guaranteed because they had to account for the 20+M they cut from his cap hit this year.
Basically what Brady, Brees, Peyton and them did on a MUCH-MUCH larger scale….though it won’t seem NEARLY as large when the salary cap is at 300M in the near future once we’re past the covid losses and the NFLPA finishes up repaying the Covid losses and the 113B TV deal kicks in next year.
At that point, a 40M dead cap hit won’t look NEARLY as bad…especially since we’ll likely suck at that point either way.
BOTTOM LINE-Packers are going ALL IN to win now. They’ve brought back every key piece of their defense, they’ve built a great OL…when healthy, a great run game. And they’ve got a lot of draft assets to rebuild their passing game with their MVP QB.
Like you just changed the facts right here? Got it.
I didn’t change any facts. I will even source it:
“Andrew Brandt: Packers-Rodgers Aren’t Committed Beyond One Year Despite Deal Terms | Rich Eisen Show” on YouTube.
Dude…it comes STRAIGHT from Rodgers.
Last year he talked about retiring instead of coming back, wanting a trade.
This year it took 3 months, he said it wasn’t about the money, he wanted to win…and then he had to decide if he wanted to retire or not and AGAIN said ‘retirement was very much on the table,” after signing a deal to give him 124M over the first 2 years.
So stop acting like this is the media making it up…
It’s more like they breed Hall of Fame Quarterbacks
That would end if Love ever starts he’s GARBAGE!!
Yeah, no arm strength, poor mechanics, he’s not athletic enough, he’s fragile, he is a system QB and can’t read the defenses…
Oh…wait, that was the scouting report on Rodgers his 2nd year in the NFL. My bad…what were we talking about again?
This is just noise to keep Rodgers in the headlines. Dude loves the spotlight.
But he didn’t say anything to start the story so essentially other people are keeping his name out there, not him.
From the article:
“Well, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, former Packers’ executive Andrew Brandt, along with another source close to the situation, believes the contract is essentially a one-year deal for $42MM.”
Gee, I wonder who “another source close to the situation” is? I’m being skeptical/pessimistic here, but I would not be surprised if this mystery source is someone from Rodgers’s camp.
Why would Rodger camp want to make this deal seem like it’s LESS than it really is? That’s literally the OPPOSITE of what they want to do.
And this is really more like a 2 year 124M dollar deal…because that’s how much cash he’s going to get the first two years of the deal(or will be guaranteed over the first two years). It prevents the Packers from making a decision on his future without him.
Please tell me how this makes sense? And he’d have to be traded in order for this to come true. Another team would have to take on all the GTD money coming up other than the signing bonus.
Oh God the Rodgers leaving articles are already starting up again.
They stopped at some point..?
Not a huge Rodgers fan, not a Green Bay and kinda just want to see them part for him to finish his career. Seems like he’s wanted out for a while and Green Bay is just holding on.
Just think of Rodgers moves next season he could really push for a title elsewhere and be happy. Green Bay could net a good return for a dude that wants out and is about to retire. It means they likely miss the playoffs and have to rebuild but it’s not like they have a plan after Rodgers anyways
Are you kidding me? They JUST aggreed to a new contract that basically guarantees Rodgers stays in Green Bay as long as he wants!
They turned down 3 1st round picks, 2 2nds and a player to keep him and pay him 150 over the next 3 years.
He LITERALLY said his entire career, including following the loss to the Buccs in the NFCCG that his “dream” was to retire in the same place. And then he signed a massive extension while the Packers ignored offers for him.
And you think they’ll trade him after 1 year? How does that make sense to you? He wanted to be involved in the decision making process. He was and he is…he wanted long term security. He got it. What would possibly lead you to believe he wants out NOW?
High Volume Sunday Click Bait
They should of moved him too Denver for was rumored or what Seattle got for Wilson.
Bronco fan here, I wanted Wilson all along, not as much drama and Wilson considerably younger.
And a far worse player whose true value lied in making plays off script with his quickness which is long gone.
LOL…far worse…dude has WON as many super bowls as Rodgers and also lost one…Rodgers chokes every year in the playoffs…Denver is better off taking their chances with Wilson…and far less drama for a regular season QB who can’t play when it counts
RW last two seasons: 18-12 67% passing, 7325 yards, 65 TDs, 19 INTS, 7.6 YPS
Rodgers: 26-6 69% passing, 8414 yards, 85 TDs and 8 INTs 8.0 YPA
I’d say it’s pretty unarguable that one is better than the other.
As far as less drama than the other. Wilson forced his way out of seattle. That’s less dramatic? I’d say Denver has as much shelf life with one or the other regardless of age.
20 more TDs and 11 less interceptions in “unarguable”? Lol okay
I don’t think anyone is questioning if AR is better than RW. I think from a talent standpoint that is hard to argue. There is separation but not a lot in my opinion.
I’m not a fan of either team. I will say that I also would want Wilson over Rodgers for a few reasons …. RW will play longer than AR, much younger. RW is a class act, unlike AR. RW is historically a better leader … AR is a constant drama magnet and cries about everything. Being an A-hole matters.
Thanks for stats..lol…AND Rodgers still went to…oh wait 0 super bowls in those seasons even as the #1 seed…GB kept crying if only we could host the NFC championship game…and then they did…and lost and then couldn’t get past SF in division round…what were Rodgers stats against SF again at home…oh yeah nobody cares cuz they didn’t win!!
Rod1 –
I wouldn’t brag about how much “less drama” Wilson is. Next to Rodgers, he’s about as much drama as there is in the league. The guy is a selfish, egotistical jerk who thinks he should be in charge just like Rodgers. The idiot even refers to himself as “Mr. Unlimited” and releases some stupid childish video about it. The only reason he isn’t as dramatic as Rodgers is that no one cares about him as much as Rodgers and he isn’t as good as Rodgers…otherwise he’d be the drama king
I have never seen a more BS comment than this one and not a fan of either.
Wilson had the #1 overall ranked defense FIVE STRAIGHT SEASONS and in his first 10 years in the league, a top 2 D 7 times, top 10 every year.
Rodgers had ONE top 5 defense and won a Super Bowl.
The Packers not only bring back their entire defense is becoming elite, they RE-SIGNED their All Pro MLBer, their PB NUMBER 3 CB and they added a 5 technique that they’ve looong needed.
There’s a reason the Broncos waited to see what would happen with Rodgers, why they went out and signed Rodgers OCs to be their HC and tried so badly to lure Rodgers to Denver…and yet they FAILED and settled for their 2nd option.
Wilson is full of drama. He’s had beef with the front office and Pete for the last 3 seasons.
No relationship is safe with this dude. I would hate to do any work on his house or provide any service hed change his mind 20x before you finished.
Or, the media are just stirring the pot again because there is zero accountability and all these insider pundits need to chase clicks and clout.
Minus the fact that he has voiced displeasure ONE off season…ever.
To be fair, he didn’t voice it, it was leaked and the media got it right…
Unless you’re talking about this year when he was deciding what he wanted to do(but didn’t really voice his displeasure).
He’s been a little uncertain the last two years, but he has been certain the whole time that he wanted 3 things;
1-A commitment from the Packer that HE could decide when HE wanted to leave the Packers.
2-To be a part of the discussions regarding the front office. He got that.
3-TO FINISH HIS CAREER WITH ONE TEAM.
Those were his issues…and they cleared them all up.
Draft Rd 1 WRer/DL. Wyatt and Olave perhaps, 2 WRers if Williams drops.
Rd McBride and another WRer or DL(whatever they don’t get in Rd 1
Rd 3 LBer depth. Troy Anderson if he’s available, edge rusher if not.
Rd 4 2 picks, OL depth, Edge depth.
Rd 5 Secondary depth…probably a bigger CB
Rd 7 Special teams players with high RAS scores who MIGHT be able to develop.
I could see them trade up from 28 up to 21 or 23 depending on who’s on the board. But they need to come out of this with an impact WRer, another WRer, a TE…and then as I said, depth at Edge, DL, OL, Secondary and maybe another WRer.
“wait, I think I’ve seen this one before!”
Media just can’t stop talking about him.
Can’t stand this guy. I dont care how good he is. And I’ll admit he’s darn good. I’d take 15 QBs over him just not to deal with his nonsense
He didn’t say anything
Where in his statement did he say that Rodgers said anything?
Don’t really care , I know he didn’t say anything this time .. we all know who and how he is. Selfish prick
30 years of 2 straight HOF Qbs and GB has managed to win 2 super bowls…that’s an epic fail as an organization..
Rod- your an idiot with that comment
Fischer40…little hurt GB chokes every year…settle for winning a weak division just to lose when it counts..congrats on your regular season Champs…oh wait NOBODY cares who wins the regular season..haha
I really like Andrew Brandt but you guys should give credit where it’s due – Pete Dougherty of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel/Packersnews.com wrote about this nearly a week before Brandt did. link to jsonline.com
“…the 2025 and 2026 years of the contract are considered to be dummy years..”
Uh, if your giving someone who doesn’t actually want to be a part of your organization $150MM, then every year is a dummy year as long as your the GM.
If he’s not on the team next year, the bulk of that $150M will be paid by someone else, or, in the case of his retirement, not be paid at all…
Here’s the thing, Aaron Rogers once flipped through an Ayn Rand book, so he is smarter than all of you. If you do not love him or agree with everything he has ever said and done, you are a hater who engages in cancel culture. Get with it to get bent.
I imagine Rodgers will be able to write his own version of “The Virtue of Selfishness” in the near future.
I wonder what Rodgers thinks about Green Bay not having any receivers now!!??
To quote The Clash…
It’s always tease, tease, tease
You’re happy when I’m on my knees
One day it’s fine and next it’s black
So if you want me off your back
Well, come on and let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
The Packers put up with his drama because of his amazing performance. His famous ex’s probably didn’t put up with his drama … also due to performance lol
I’d love to hear them tell stories about his personality. Gotta be some gold in there somewhere. One thing is for certain, none of them have been denying any of the reports of him being an absolute jerk over the last couple of years…
Brandt also said the Packers were going to trade him..he may have worked there, but it’s been ages since he was there and doesn’t have the insider info he claims.
If Rodgers is gone after one more year with the Packers, they’d end up being the big winner. Surely he’d want to cash in with another team, and someone will be willing to pay that salary and give the Packers a big haul in draft picks. They’ll have a much better idea as to whether Love is ready, and be prepared in case he isn’t. They have one more good shot at an ARod Super Bowl and then can reload quickly.
It wouldn’t be surprising if this is his last year, as I think he’s ridden this train to the end of the line in terms of his interest and physical ability. 2022 will undoubtedly be much more of a struggle with Green Bay’s current set of wide receivers, thus it will take more from Rodgers than in previous years to get back to the top.
Lol that ends if Love ever starts.. He’s
Ok so what would you like to call the past few seasons for the packers? Great…sure!! Then everyone should be happy when they lost at home after having the #1 seed in the NFC..sorry I’ll rephrase my original comment then..having 30 straight years of HOF QB play and only managing 2 super bowl titles is an epic greatness..better?