Green Bay Packers best, worst case scenario for 2021

The Aaron Rodgers decision will make or break the Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers dominated NFL offseason storylines for all the wrong reasons. Somehow, The team’s brass (mainly team president Mark Murphy) and last year’s NFL MVP, can’t reach common ground. The situation feels like it’s slowly deteriorated since the Packers were knocked out of the NFC championship game, but even with the chatter directly after the loss, it still felt certain Rodgers would be back. The team is loaded with talent but he is the catalyst. This summer has felt different and at this point, it seems like there’s almost no chance Aaron Rodgers suits up for Green Bay in 2021. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Rodgers turned down a lucrative 2-year deal 

This off-season, the Packers offered Aaron Rodgers a two-year contract extension that would have tied him to Green Bay for five more seasons and made him the highest-paid QB and player in football.

Rodgers declined the offer, proof it’s not about the money.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 20, 2021

Best Case Scenario: Super Bowl

There is no best-case scenario that doesn’t involve the return of Aaron Rodgers to lead the Green Bay Packers. We are talking about one of the top players to ever play the position. It almost feels like this disagreement has reached a deep, personal level, and Rodgers’ mysterious personality makes it impossible to read. This is a highly explosive and talented offense with Rodgers under center and Matt LaFleur calling plays. Davante Adams may be the top wide receiver in the NFL. The running back duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon adds another dimension to how the Green Bay Packers play football.

All the pieces are in place….except the most important one.

This team was in the NFC championship game less than seven months ago. Even with the same supporting cast, it’s impossible to see Jordan Love, amongst the pressure and uncertainty, coming in and picking up where Rodgers left off. A best-case scenario should include a run at the Super Bowl, but that isn’t happening without the reigning MVP.

Worst Case Scenario

It’s safe to assume LaFleur is preparing as if Rodgers isn’t playing in 2021. That will change the moment he receives a call or the 37-year old quarterback walks into the team facility, but for now, the two sides don’t feel close. Jordan Love is a complete unknown. Think of any highly-touted college passer taking over in his first NFL start. For Mahomes, it came easily, but he’s in a class of his own. From Josh Allen to Daniel Jones, it’s far more common for young quarterbacks to experience growing pains, and that’s assuming they eventually figure it out.

The Packers’ defense improved, but their offense was the bread and butter. If Rodgers truly sits out the entire 2021 season, the worst-case scenario would be missing the playoffs. The team is built to win now, but the franchise quarterback must be present.