In the early days of the offseason, the NFL rumor mill is buzzing, and one name that's always in the mix is Aaron Rodgers. This time, the whispers are swirling around the possibility of Rodgers heading to the Arizona Cardinals. Let’s unpack why this might not be as far-fetched as it seems.
First up, there’s Nathaniel Hackett. Remember him?
He was the Broncos' head coach in 2022 when the buzz was that the Packers might trade Rodgers. That deal didn’t go through until 2023, by which time Hackett had moved to the Jets and played a role in bringing Rodgers there.
Now, Hackett finds himself in Arizona, where the Cardinals could soon be in the market for a quarterback, especially if Kyler Murray is on his way out.
But Hackett isn’t the only connection. Mike LaFleur, the Cardinals' new head coach, has ties to Rodgers as well.
He was the offensive coordinator for the Rams, who reportedly considered Rodgers as a backup plan if Matthew Stafford had left last year. Plus, Mike’s brother, Matt LaFleur, coached Rodgers in Green Bay for four seasons.
Despite some rocky moments, Rodgers recently had nothing but praise for Matt, which certainly keeps the door open for future collaboration.
Now, let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: the Cardinals' current standing in the NFC West. It’s a tough division, and even with Rodgers, making a playoff run would be an uphill battle. But the NFL is full of surprises, and stranger things have happened.
Whether it’s Rodgers or another quarterback, the Cardinals are likely to make a move. Keeping an eye on Rodgers joining forces with Hackett and LaFleur in Arizona is definitely worth our attention. This offseason could get very interesting for the Cardinals.