Aaron Rodgers’ future in Green Bay is uncertain for a 3rd straight offseason

Aaron Rodgers’ future in Green Bay is uncertain for a 3rd straight offseason.  The big question now is what's next for the Packers quarterback?

In March 2022, Aaron Rodgers signed a 3 year, $150.8M contract extension, including a $40.8M signing bonus, $150.8M guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $50.3M. In 2023, Rodgers will earn a base salary of $1,165,000, a signing bonus of $58.3M and a workout bonus of $50,000, while carrying a cap hit of $31.6M.

If Rodgers were traded prior to June 1, the Packers would take on a dead cap hit of $40.3M, assuming the acquiring team takes responsibility for the $58.3M Option bonus, costing the team an extra $8.7M against the cap. Now, if Rodgers were traded Post June 1, the dead cap money drops to $15.8M, plus an additional $24.5M dead cap in 2024, assuming the acquiring team takes responsibility for the $58.3M Option bonus. That would create a savings of $15.8M for the Packers in 2023.

In the event the team cuts ties with Rodgers prior to June 1, the cap hits would be significant. If he is released prior to June 1, that carries a dead money hit of $99.8M, costing the team an extra $68.2M in cap space. Post June 1, the dead money drops to $31,6M, saving the team $50K on the 2023 cap, but adds an additional $68.2M in dead cap money in 2024.

A Rodgers retirement prior to June 1 would cost $40.3M in dead cap space, which would be an extra $8.7M hit against the cap for the Packers compared to his 2023 cap number. A post June 1 retirement would only be a $15.8M dead cap hit, saving the team $15.8M against the cap, but would also come with a $24.5M dead cap hit in 2024. If Rodgers retired, he would be giving up $59.5M in guaranteed money in 2023, along with $49.3M in guaranteed money in 2024.

We will discuss this plus breaking down all the NFL divisional playoff games later today on Shemon and Sheppard 2-6pm ESPN-SWFL.

The 2022 NFL season is not over, yet we have the first drips of the 2023 schedule. The NFL announced the five home teams for international games in 2023. We all know the Jags are one of those teams. Jacksonville plays in London every season as a part of a multi-year deal. The dates and opponents for the games are still unknown. That information will become public when the schedule is released later on in 2023. But for now we know Jacksonville will play a home game in London along with the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans. At a minimum London will have 2 teams that made it to the Divisional Round.

Germany will get two games this year- up from one in 2022. The Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots will play home games in Germany in 2023. The cities have not been announced yet. The Buccaneers defeated the Seahawks in the first NFL game held in Germany this season. That game was played in Munich. The NFL has an agreement where Munich and Frankfurt will host games over the next four years. It seems likely that Frankfurt will host one of those games.

Mexico City is off the schedule this year. Estadio Azteca is undergoing renovations during the 2023 season that makes them hosting a game impossible. The NFL is able to have their International Series due to the increase in regular season games to 17. The AFC and NFC alternate seasons hosting 9 games. Each season 4 teams hosting 9 games are eligible to take part in the NFL international series. Last year the NFL set attendance records in the 5 games played abroad, with every game selling out. The NFL is still exploring the possibility of placing a franchise outside of the US. However NFL Executive Peter O'Reily tells the Associated Press that nothing is imminent.

The Jags play in London every year. And there is speculation that the Jags are on the short list of teams who could make a permanent move to an international location. The Jags are 4-5 all time in London games.

This will be the second game Buffalo has played internationally. They lost in 2015 to the Jaguars. Jacksonville is on the schedule for Buffalo in 2023. but it's highly unlikely they will matchup outside of the US with Jacksonville slaighted to host a game in London. The NFL wouldn't make them play two games abroad.

The Titans will play their first international game since 2018, a loss to the Chargers.

The NFL awarded home international television markets to teams in 2022. The Chiefs were awarded Germany as their home international market. The Chiefs are 2-0 in international games with wins in England and Mexico.

The Patriots are 3-0 in games played outside the US. They've outscored opponents 113-22. Like the Chiefs, the Patriots were awarded Germany as their international home market starting with the 2022 season.