During a press conference at the NFL Combine, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters on Tuesday that he hasn't received any trade offers for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. When asked about the situation, Gutekunst said that "not a single person" has called the team.
Whether or not Gutekunst's answer was honest -- recent reports suggest serious interest from other teams -- it appears that Rodgers, the two-time reigning MVP, isn't going to be playing elsewhere in 2022. The 38-year-old has yet to announce his plan for next season, but Green Bay is hellbent on ensuring his return. So, in the meantime, Gutekunst isn't showing his cards.
"Nobody believes this. Nobody believes not one other team has been calling about Aaron Rodgers," Maggie Gray said during the Maggie and Perloff show on Wednesday. "I speak fluent general manager, and I feel like I can hear the smile a little bit in his voice. I believe that if we were to give Gutekunst some truth serum, anywhere between five, eight teams have already reached out.
"If an owner is out there looking at their own quarterback situation and thinks they have a chance at Rodgers. They see ticket sales, marketing opportunity, wins. The owner would put pressure on a general manager. You must kick the tires on Aaron Rodgers... If you're one of these teams that could possibly get Rodgers, or turn his head and make it appealing for him to go there, you have to invest some time into a plan, just on the off chance he can pick your team."
Earlier last week, ESPN reporter Dianna Russini said that Rodgers is seeking a new contract with an average salary in the $50 million range, and that multiple teams have already placed trade offers on the table. Russini's report also said that Rodgers will "soon" inform the team of his decision. Last Friday, Rodgers addressed the rumors and called the contract claims "categorically false."
Rodgers produced his fourth career MVP season in 2021. In 16 total games, he racked up 4,115 passing yards with 37 touchdowns and four interceptions, and didn't commit a single turnover from Week 10 on. Rodgers also stepped up while battling a broken pinky toe, suffered in mid-November. The Packers' campaign ended on a sour note, though, as their offense scored 10 points in an upset loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field.
At this time, Rodgers comes with a hefty cap hit of $46 million in 2022 -- due to contract restructuring -- and if he plays out the 2022 season, he'd then be eligible for free agency during the 2023 league year. If he elects to retire this offseason, however, he'd miss out on nearly $27 million in 2022. The Packers are $31 million over the cap as of Wednesday, the NFL's second-worst mark.
Maggie and Perloff's complete thoughts on Rodgers and the Packers can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Maggie and Perloff Show on Twitter @MaggieandPerl and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.