If there is a quarterback on the market, the 49ers fanbase will always discuss the idea, so is a 49ers trade for Aaron Rodgers realistic? The New York Jets have yet to make a deal with the Greenbay Packers for Aaron Rodgers. The 49ers have a dominant team, but questions at quarterback. With all these factors, will the 49ers trade for Aaron Rodgers if the Jets and Packers cannot come to a deal?
49ers Trade for Aaron Rodgers?
The discussion about the 49ers in connection to Rodgers has been around since the 2005 NFL Draft. The San Francisco 49ers held the number one overall pick, and many speculated that they would pick Rodgers, but they went with Alex Smith instead. Rodgers ended up going to the Greenbay Packers and the rest is history. Aaron Rodgers confirmed that he would like to be traded to the New York Jets, but that has yet to happen.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (12) – Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
The Packers and Jets still have not come to a deal, but it is expected to be done before the 2023 NFL draft. The reports are that Greenbay is asking for more than New York is willing to give up. If the 49ers trade for Aaron Rodgers, they would have to give up a lot. The issue then is, the 49ers do not have a first or second-round draft pick in the 2023 draft, and the Packers would want at the very least a second-round pick this year. So the draft capital in a trade would be difficult to argue.
The other setback for a 49ers trade for Aaron Rodgers is the veteran quarterback’s price. In 2023, Rodgers’ cap hit will be about $31.6 million, according to Spotrac. San Francisco does not have nearly enough to try to make room for that. Right now, the three quarterbacks on the 49ers’ roster have a combined cap hit of $15.3 million, according to David Lombardi in a recent tweet.
49ers’ Current Quarterback Room
The 49ers currently have three quarterbacks on their roster that can at the least manage a game. The projected starter is Brock Purdy. Purdy came in late in the season and his first loss was not until the NFC Championship game. In the regular season alone, Purdy completed 114 out of 170 passes for 1,374 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also only threw four interceptions. Purdy started five games, winning all of them, and even won in the game he went into when Jimmy Garoppolo went down.
If all goes to plan with Purdy’s recovery, he should be able to play week one of the 2023 season, which makes a 49ers trade for Aaron Rodgers unrealistic. If something goes wrong with Purdy’s recovery, the team has Trey Lance and Sam Darnold on the roster still.
49ers QB Brock Purdy (13) – Jed Jacobsohn/AP Photo
The next question is if Purdy is not likely to be ready, is a 49ers trade for Aaron Rodgers realistic? Lance is heading into his third year in the league with just four starts. In his four starts, where Lance played the full game, he went 1-2, as he went down early with an injury in his fourth start. There is not too much on Lance, but he is still a much cheaper option at quarterback, who also knows the system. Sam Darnold was signed as a free agent this offseason to be the third quarterback on the roster as a veteran.
Darnold is heading into his sixth year in the league with his third team. He has also had multiple coaches. Darnold may not be a top quarterback in the league, but the signing of Darnold was to keep someone experienced on the roster, as well as be a competition will Lance as Purdy recovers. The signing of Darnold may have been what solidified the idea that San Francisco will not make a move for a big-time quarterback this season, and to roll with what they have.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan also stated that he is happy with the three quarterbacks on the roster when asked about trading for quarterback Lamar Jackson. While nothing is impossible in the NFL, between all these factors, a 49ers trade for Aaron Rodgers is highly unlikely, and the veteran quarterback will more than likely be in New York in 2023.
