Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers hints decision on future likely by franchise tag deadline out of respect for Davante Adams

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The timing on whether both Rodgers and Adams return to the Green Bay Packers could happen almost simultaneously.

Rodgers said he might have a decision by the time free agency begins on March 16.

The Packers can use the franchise tag on Adams as early as February 22, but no later than March 8. Rodgers doesn't want to be part of a rebuild and likely considers anything without Adams to be just that. If Rodgers doesn't return to the Packers, Adams would like to explore his options.

One decision that will be upcoming will be obviously Davante and his future with the team. I don't think 17 wants the franchise, which is called a franchise tag.

It should be enough time to make a decision by then. I don't want to put myself on a specific date, but I do want to be sensitive to Davante and many other guys who have decisions to make on their own futures. To drag it out past free agency would be disrespectful to the organization and to those guys.

There are implications to consider. Without Adams, the Packers are $44.8 million over their projected salary cap. The tag for a receiver is close to $20 million. The top 51 players have to be under the cap by 4 pm. On March 16.

Rodgers didn't give any clues about which way he's leaning. He said on Tuesday that there is a return to Green Bay, a trade request and retirement on the table. He knows free agency is not an option because he still has another year left on his contract, and he said he would not sit out a season and then come back.

Rodgers said that he doesn't have any desire to do that.

The coach said he met with Rodgers as part of the exit-interview process. As of Tuesday, it was not known if Rodgers met with Gutekunst or Murphy, but he was still in Green Bay.

I feel like I am at the place with the Packers where I feel like I am at a good place with Brian and the way our friendship and trust has grown, where it would be a simple conversation and whatever comes out of the conversation is moving forward. When it is time to make a decision, Brian and I will have a conversation and that will be that. It won't take a long time.

If he were to return for another season, Rodgers said he would prefer to skip most of the program.

When he came back to the Packers last July, he admitted that he didn't participate in the offseason program last year, but he continued to work out and train as if he were going to play.

Rodgers said he doesn't have a fear of retirement. The uncertainty is not frightening. It is almost exciting to think about what life will look like in the future.

In addition to his meetings with LaFleur and Gutekunst, he will also consult with friends and loved ones who have moved on and current teammates who are still playing.

It will come down to this.

Rodgers said it would be a lot of intuition and a lot of feel.

I think it is a trust that I will know what to do. You move forward once you make a decision. You don't make a decision until you have certainty. There is a time frame for this because I know that my decision affects a number of other people. I want to be very sensitive to that, so I will make a decision sooner than later.