It is Time the Packers Give Aaron Rodgers a Share of Power

Aaron Rodgers is 38 years old and is not getting any younger. As he ages, the Packers’ championship window closes. Within five years, the Packers’ best chance at a Super Bowl in 20 years may be gone. That is why it is time for the Packers front office to give up some of the power or team control to Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers plays one of, if not, the most important position on the field, quarterback, and Rodgers play it very well, winning back-to-back league MVPs in 2020-2021, winning the award for a third and fourth time. However, despite constant MVP awards, playoff appearances, division championships, and winning records, the Packers only have one Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers. This lack of championships can normally be traced back to one of two reasons, lack of a good defense or the lack of weapons Rodgers has on offense.

Over the course of the last five years, the Packers’ front office has made some questionable decisions when it comes to supplying Rodgers with weapons on offense. From letting his top target and favorite receiver Jordy Nelson leave in free agency to not re-signing another pro-bowl wide receiver and friend Randall Cobb, the Packers’ front office does not give Rodgers enough fire power to create a really dangerous and potentially record-breaking offense.

The Packers also have not drafted a wide receiver in the first or second round since they selected Davante Adams in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft and now Christian Watson in the 2022 NFL Draft. Many of these moves surprised not only fans but Rodgers himself. Some moves even made Rodgers furious like letting two of his favorite targets and friends leave the team. Then the team traded up to draft his replacement in the 2020 NFL draft. These moves have caused Rodgers to question his future with the team. However, with a contract extension recently signed, and Rodgers saying that he wants to finish his career with the Packers, it is time for the Packers’ front office to give Rodgers some managerial power when it comes to offensive drafts and free agency signings.

The Packers should give Rodgers some power during the NFL draft and free agency for a few reasons. The first being that he is widely considered by myself and many others to be one of the most talented and or greatest quarterback of all time. Another is that he single-handedly takes the Packers offense to another level. Rodgers can put up MVP stats with decent receivers and can turn almost any receiver he plays with into a star.

Take Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb for example. Both wide receivers were pro-bowl caliber players when they played with Rodgers. Then when both players left, their stats took a dip in production. Nelson had an okay year with the Raiders before retiring, and Cobb went on to have mixed results with the Cowboys and Texans before joining the Packers again last year and was having another good season before getting injured with seven weeks left in the season. The last reason is that Rodgers makes the team better.

Since taking over the starting quarterback position, the Packers are 133-64-1 in games that Rodgers starts. In the 18 starts that Rodgers has missed the Packers are 6-11-1. The Packers have a winning percentage .313% better when Rodgers starts than when he doesn’t. That means the Packers are over 30% more likely to win when Rodgers is playing vs when he is not. That stat line is not surprising and shows just how good Rodgers is and how valuable he is to the Packers organization. Rodgers should have some team control because the organization should want to keep him happy. That should be priority number one.

If Rodgers is happy and has a quality team around him, success is assured, and another Super Bowl is almost guaranteed. To be sure, Rodgers is not an owner or general manger and there is no telling how well he would do when possibly drafting or deciding what free agents to sign, he may not do good or even great. Many people would say that he should just sit down and do what the Packers pay him to do, play football. However, if you give Rodgers some control of team moves, he can bring in wide receivers and players that he wants to play with and players he knows that will elevate his game and take it to the next level.

Last season, for example, Rodgers said he would come back to the team if they traded for his friend and, long-time teammate Randall Cobb. The Packers obliged, and Cobb was once again a Packer. Rodgers then looked more comfortable and had a familiar target on the field. And that season ended with Rodgers winning his fourth MVP. That is just a glimpse of what Rodgers could be capable of if the Packers gave him some team control.

Some people may think that giving the quarterback full control of team moves. Moves such as drafting and free agency singings, may not be the best thing to do, since he is not the general manager. But there is a solution. A solution to this problem would be giving Rodgers some control and input.

That means if Rodgers suggests drafting a player or singing a wide receiver, the general manager has to take the suggestion into consideration. Also, Rodgers gets to know who the Packers plan on drafting and gets to have some input during the draft to make sure he gets a young receiver that he can craft into the next big star. The quarterback does not always need to be the driving force of who a team drafts or signs, but there is no doubt they are one of the most important players on the field, and keeping them happy is a must, which is why Aaron Rodgers should get some control of who the Packers draft or sign.