Pro/Con: Should Washington Trade For Aaron Rodgers?

Another week, another quarterback rumor for the Washington Football Team.

This time, the argument is especially intriguing because it involves the league’s reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers. Reports out of Green Bay state that the team’s signal caller is fed up with the organization and will never play another down for the Packers.

Supposedly, the signal-caller feels left out in the decision-making process and was slighted with last year’s draft process.

Heading into 2020, the quarterback felt that his team was poised for a championship run and were one wide receiver short of contending. How did the front office respond? By drafting his eventual replacement, Jordan Love.

Ouch.

Since then, the relationship has been rocky, despite a combined 26-6 record over the last two seasons. Rodgers has allegedly criticized Packers GM Brian Gutekunst and compared him to former Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause, who infamously dismantled the Jordan Dynasty.

It appears that Green Bay and Rodgers are headed for a divorce, and he may be on the move.

Today we take a fun spin on things, and compare the Pro’s and Con’s acquiring Rodgers. We went outside-the-box a little, and solicited help from a guest writer, Super-Fan Tim Meek to jump in on the argument.

Take a look at the Pro’s and the Con’s, and let us know what you think!

Pro: Make the Trade

Written by George Carmi: 

Before I take a deep dive into why Washington should trade for Aaron Rodgers, let me pose two questions for you. What is the primary objective of an NFL franchise? And Why do teams teams invest in the draft? Both of these questions will set the basis for my argument, and let me show you how.

The primary objective of an NFL franchise is to win a Super Bowl, at all costs. Granted it’s appealing to be competitive and hover around .500 for a good 10 years, but what does that prove?

From 2010-2019, the Dallas Cowboys compiled a record of 86-74, including seasons of 10, 12 and 13 wins. Over this time period they had three division titles. That’s a respectable record, and something we didn’t achieve as organization.

So what?

They had zero playoff wins to show for it, and barely made a dent in NFL lore. Washington should aspire for more. Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1966, the Washington football team has ended the season as a Super Bowl Champion only three times. Or in other words, three times over the last 55 years. It’s time to take a shot at a championship.

With the addition of Rodgers, Washington becomes an instant favorite to win the NFC and likely a Super Bowl contender. No longer will the team be considered an afterthought; in fact quite the opposite. The team will be highlighted on national games, the heart of national analysis and viewed as a serious threat. The city would be be in a fever pitch that they haven’t felt since the 80’s. It’s all good and fun to be “competitive”, but a favored champion is a whole other level.

This goes on to my next point — Why do teams invest in the draft? My counterpart will likely argue that you need draft capital to sustain success and provide a “window of opportunity” to win. By most measures, a “window to win” can be defined as 4-5 years. You don’t think Rodgers can provide that? What better opportunity could you ask for than Rodgers? The quarterback is coming off one of his best statistical seasons and a league MVP. For context, the Packers QB threw for 4,300 yards, 48 touchdowns and five interceptions (!!) last season. He also led his team to a 26-6 record over the last two years. This was with a team with a more inferior defense to Washington. And remember, Chase Young and Montez Sweat are still ascending. 

I argue that QB12 does not limit the “window of opportunity” for success, but rather opens it wider. If the ideal goal of draft capital is to get a 4-5 year window to win, you’d be hard pressed to tell me that you’re more likely to win a Super Bowl without Rodgers than with him.

At 38, the quarterback has at least three good seasons left, and Washington’s main core will still be here. In fact, they’d be more likely to re-sign with one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game is in their locker room.

Cueing former Head Coach Herm Edwards, “You play. To win. The game”.  And Washington should do just that. Win a championship, and cement your history forever.

CON: It’s Not Worth The Risk

Written by Tim Meek: 

As a lifetime fan of the Washington Football Team, I’ve been tasked with the unthinkable. I’ll attempt to convince you why trading for a three-time League MVP and Super Bowl winning QB would be a bad idea for the Washington Football Team.

On the surface the argument as ridiculous as it sounds. I mean, Aaron Rodgers would be the best QB to wear Burgundy & Gold behind center. No offense, to Sammy, Sonny, Billy and our Trifecta of Super Bowl Winning QB’s. But Rodgers is in a different category of greatness. So why not sell out? Rodgers would instantly make Washington a Super Bowl contender, it’s that simple, right? I mean, Denver did it with Peyton, TB with Brady. Ok, solid argument.

So let’s talk about history. If we’re using history as the criteria, then we must also consider the history of the Super Bowl era that has only seen the two aforementioned QB’s win Super Bowls with multiple teams. That’s it. That’s the list, Brady and Manning. History also paints a picture of how incredibly hard it is to win a Super Bowl. Sure, top level QB is easy on the eyes, it’s great for fantasy football and it’s usually the most common denominator for sustained success in the NFL.

But it’s not necessarily the most important factor for winning a Super Bowl. A-Rod is entering his 14th season as a starting QB in the NFL. He’s won one Super Bowl. In the meantime, a back-up QB named Foles, a marginal QB in Flacco and a couple journeymen like Dilfer and Johnson have equaled his Super Bowl output. Now, if A-Rod were a bit younger and football was his entire focus, then my opinion would certainly change. But what are we getting here with Rodgers?

Remember, Rivera is building a culture here. Guys who love football, players who are great teammates, leaders, grinders, all the intangibles it takes as a team to be successful. I can appreciate the argument that intangibles don’t matter when you spin it to the tune of 48 TD’s and 5 Interceptions in a season, that’s just sick. However, what Rodgers are we getting here? The “me-first” egocentric narcissist (and I’m being kind)?

Again, who cares about his personality when he has generational arm-talent, right? Not so fast. We’re talking about a guy who influenced free agents to not sign with Green Bay out of spite. We’re talking about a Hall of Fame QB that had his feelings hurt over the organization drafting a project QB. We’re talking about a QB that clearly has other interests outside of football, whether that be hosting Jeopardy or otherwise, his commitment to football would certainly have to be concerning.

So if the Washington Football Team meets with A-Rod and determines he’s all in with football and wants to be here. It’s the right move then, right? I’m still not sure. Here’s why. He’s 37 years old. His contract expires in 2023. Sure, that could be a great three-year run of football. The team could draft a project guy…hmmm, or could they? We saw what happened in GB. But he makes the team an automatic Super Bowl contender for the next 3 years, right? Well, it has been 10+ years since he reached a Super Bowl? There is no sure thing, not even with an elite QB.

Washington is better suited to take the collection of first round picks needed to make this trade and continue to build this roster instead. They will be better off investing the $105 million owed to Rodgers over the next three seasons to extend contracts of the foundation pieces of this young roster. It’s projected the market for Chase Young will be north of $30 million per. His tag-team partner on the other side will need to be extended sooner and Sweat won’t be a bargain. And that’s only if one of those players wouldn’t need to be included in a Rodgers deal.

The final reason to be hesitant about a trade of this magnitude. HEALTH. There’s absolutely no way to predict it. As we’ve seen in Washington, it can be devastating, not only for the players, but for the organization. When you sell out the future and invest so much into one player, it’s debilitating if the unforeseen injury happens, which at 37+ years old certainly becomes more likely. The quick fix has been a staple in Washington for the past 30 years. Rivera and company have an opportunity to build a sustained winner here in Washington. Quit convincing yourself the organization is somehow “wasting” all this young talent.

As history proves, a great defense with solid weapons on offense can win with journeymen QB’s just as easy as it can with elite players like Rodgers. It takes some luck, staying healthy and a stable organization. To build the sustained winner that we all want in Washington involves staying the course. Rodgers is the short term answer, and history has proven it’s not guaranteed to bring a ring and oftentimes ends poorly. In this case, it could tear apart the foundation and leave this team without a Super Bowl or a future.

So What Do You Think?

I’d like to personally thank our guest writer, Tim Meek (@TimIndySkinsFan) for sharing his insight and delivering a compelling argument. It was definitely fun getting a fresh perspective and a die-hard fan contributing on a Pro-Con article. We’ll definitely be doing this again.

Feel free to chime in on our twitter thread, below the article. Let us know who you think “won” the argument. Both sides brought compelling topics to the table. Now it’s time for you to decide!

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