Odds Released on Whether Aaron Rodgers or Carson Wentz Gets Traded Before 2020 Season
- After seeing their potential replacements selected in the draft, odds have been released on whether Aaron Rodgers or Carson Wentz are traded
- Are either of the Packers or Eagles likely to move out their starting QB during the offseason?
- Examination of the odds and predictions on the likelihood of this occurring follow in the story below
Are the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers headed for a messy divorce? Have the Philadelphia Eagles given up on Carson Wentz?
Both of these questions were rightfully posed following puzzling decisions made by both of these teams during the early stages of last week’s NFL Draft.
After trading up in the first round, the Packers, who came within a win of going to the Super Bowl last season, opted for Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. In the second round, the reigning NFC East champion Eagles selected Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts.
Sportsbooks are currently offering prohibitive odds favoring each QB to stay put – Rodgers at +850 and Wentz at +1200 – but could that prognosis change over the coming few months?
Odds Aaron Rodgers is Traded Before Start of 2020 NFL Season
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +450 |
| No | -850 |
Odds taken Apr. 27th
Rodgers is 36 and entering his 16th NFL season. There’s a lot of miles on his tires.
At the same time, he’s coming off a stellar campaign. It might not have been vintage Rodgers but it was most certainly efficient nonetheless.
"He should feel disgusted. He should feel insulted. And as far as I'm concerned, if I was Aaron Rodgers I'd ask to be traded."@stephenasmith is MAD 😶 pic.twitter.com/c4HoUmOHjt
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 24, 2020
Rodgers threw for 26 touchdowns against four interceptions. He passed for 4,002 yards. His passer rating was 95.4.
Those aren’t the numbers of a QB in decline.
The Rodgers Verdict
The clock is definitely ticking on the end of Rodgers’ days as a Packer. But to suggest the sands of time are rapidly running out would be foolhardy.
Look back to 2005, the year the Packers took Rodgers in the first round of the draft. Brett Favre was under center for Green Bay then, 36 years old and entering his 15th NFL campaign.
Favre spent three more seasons as Green Bay’s QB before he was traded to the New York Jets. That scenario fits as what likely will happen to Rodgers.
Soooooo
Where’s @AaronRodgers12 play in 2021?— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) April 25, 2020
To trade him right now, the Packers would be required to absorb a $45.9 million cap hit. Three seasons from now in 2022, the cap hit to move on from Rodgers will be $17 million.
He’ll be 38 then, and like Tom Brady did this season, positioned to engineer a move to a team that looks like a contender.
Pick: No (-850).
Odds Carson Wentz is Traded Before Start of 2020 NFL Season
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +600 |
| No | -1200 |
If the Green Bay situation is puzzling, the scenario in Philadelphia is downright jaw dropping. A year ago, the Eagles signed Wentz to a four-year, $128 million contract extension.
He’s 27 and entering his fifth NFL season.
Aaron Rodgers and Carson Wentz after their teams draft a QB early pic.twitter.com/4ndHgnpZwi
— FanSided (@FanSided) April 25, 2020
Wentz is also injury-prone. He suffered season-ending injuries in two of the past three years. Did that play a role in Philadelphia’s decision to move so quickly to get Hurts with the 53rd pick?
The Wentz Verdict
Prior to drafting Hurts, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson called Wentz to let him know that the move was coming. Pederson also reinforced to Wentz that he was still their guy. The Eagles still view Wentz as the face of the franchise.
Wentz even tweeted out a welcome to Philly message to Hurts.
Welcome to the best football city in America brotha! https://t.co/CKAMNLO7mb
— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) April 25, 2020
The scouting report on Hurts is that he doesn’t possess the arm strength and ability to make multiple reads to be a #1 NFL QB. But he’s seen as someone who can enter in a game in certain situations, utilize his mobility to make plays and create different looks for defenses.
He could end up filling a role similar to what Taysom Hill does for the New Orleans Saints. But Hurts won’t be taking Wentz’s job away from him.
Pick: No (-1200).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
