*NOTE: This article was written in late February/early March of 2022. This was before Aaron Rodgers signed a multimillion dollar contract with the Green Bay Packers. At some point or another, this question crossed the mind of every Raiders fan.*
Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time Aaron Rodgers was rumored to be traded to the Raiders. Way back in 2007, the Packers almost sent “ARod” to the bay in exchange for Randy Moss. We all know how this deal never came into fruition, and how both of these players became Hall of Famers. But that makes me wonder, what would happen if Rodgers was traded to the Raiders now? This article will cover all of that and then some.
What if Aaron Rodgers was Traded to the Raiders for Derek Carr?
1. Aaron Rodgers gets sent to the Raiders in exchange for Derek Carr and a boatload of picks.
2. So what does this mean for Davante Adams? This means that he re-signs with the team and reunites with his bff, only this time in Green Bay.
3. Now with Aaron Rodgers on the Raiders, who will be Aaron’s predecessor? Who will be Aaron’s number one receiver?
To answer the second question, you have to consider that the Raiders already gave up everything to acquire Aaron Rodgers. So with that being said, they probably don’t end up with a lot of draft picks in the early rounds. Instead, they build on what they already have, and try their best to recreate the legendary Rodgers/Nelson combo only this time with Hunter Renfrow. Obviously he’s not on Adams’ level just yet, but hey, it works.
4. The Raiders probably end up drafting a quarterback in the early rounds of the 2021 NFL draft. Round 1? Probably not. Round 2–3? Possibly.
There’s two quarterbacks that the Raiders might look at drafting. Number 1, Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder. We know that Mayock likes taking guys out of schools that are in the National Championship, and with Cincinnati on the brink of doing just that, it could definitely happen. Number 2, California QB Chase Garbers. Local kid, another Cal quarterback lining up under center for the Raiders. Garbers will be available later in the draft, but he’ll be a steal for whoever decides to take him. Realistically, Garbers is more likely to be drafted. So with that being said, Garbers gets picked, and Aaron Rodgers has some deja vu, and now HE’S the veteran quarterback training the kid from Cal.
5. Meanwhile, Carr and Adams are dealing with their own case of deja vu, as they revert back to their old ways of lighting up the scoreboard, only this time, as Packers…
Carr and Adams become one of the top QB/WR duos in the league, and for the first time since the 2010 season, Carr does what Rodgers could not. Carr takes the Packers past the NFC championship and into the Super Bowl.
6. As for Aaron Rodgers, he’s tasked with arguably his biggest “all or nothing” season in his entire NFL career. With retirement on the horizon, the Raiders have to win BIG, and NOW. With time running out, the Raiders front office looks to make a splash in the NFL Draft.
The same way Derek Carr did what Aaron Rodgers could not (taking the Packers past the NFC Championship), the Raiders do what the Packers could not, and trade up to draft a receiver in the first round. Trying their best to remold their very own Davante Adams, they go out and get another lengthy receiver in Treylon Burks.
The rest of the story is really just a matter of personal opinion. At this point, your guess would be as good as mine. As a Raider fan, I could sit here and say that the Raiders’ new high powered offense would demolish just about any defense in the NFL, including that of Green Bay. I could say that the Raiders and Packers meet up in the final game of the season in a rematch of Super Bowl II, but let’s be realistic. That storyline is purely a fairytale, although possible.
Between the two teams, the Packers are more likely to make it to the big game with their elite defense, tied together with one of the most elite QB/WR reunions in college football history. But in terms of longevity and overall potential, its the Raiders who have the upper hand. With a young duo in Chase Garbers and Treylon Burks, its very possible they become the next “big thing” in the NFL.
Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time a Cal quarterback dethroned a Hall of Fame legend…
Thanks for reading my article, I appreciate the support! I just started writing for Gridiron Heroics, but if you’re interested in checking out more of my work here’s a link to another article of mine.