Mike Tannenbaum and Marcus Spears explain why Rodgers needs to make a decision quickly. There is a time and a place for it.
According to a source, the Green Bay Packers made a long-term contract offer to Rodgers that would change the quarterback market.
A three- or four-year deal would give Rodgers, 38, contractual clarity well into his 40s and help the Packers' salary-cap situation.
Nine days before the start of the new league year, Green Bay is over the cap. The Packers were expected to offer Rodgers a new deal at some point this season, with the dual intention of getting under the salary cap and also providing market-level compensation for the two-time reigning league Most Valuable Player.
A source told ESPN that the Broncos are willing to compete to acquire Rodgers, either through a new contract or draft pick compensation.
Rodgers is considering his options but is expected to make a decision soon. He said on The Pat McAfee Show that he would like to make his decision by the franchise tender deadline on Tuesday, when the Packers need to decide whether to use the tag on Davante Adams.
Additional cap space will be created by whatever Rodgers decides. Depending on the timing of the decision, the Packers would get between $19.3 million and $26.9 million in salary-cap savings.
Rodgers has one year left on his contract and will count $46.1 million against the cap, a number that will be lowered by an extension should he decide to return. Packers vice president of football operations Russ Ball is in contract talks with Rodgers agent David Dunn.
Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City is the highest-paid quarterback in the league, with a $450 million deal that has an average annual value of $45 million. Josh Allen is the second-highest-paid quarterback in the league with an average annual value of $43 million.
Matt Ryan is the only player in the league with a cap hit larger than Rodgers. He has a deal with the Falcons that counts against the cap.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said last week that Green Bay has not received any trade offers for Rodgers, and that not a single person has called to inquire about the star quarterback's availability.
The Packers would want a lot of compensation in a trade for Rodgers, and it would be hard for the team to acquire him.
The Packers had not engaged in any trade scenarios regarding Rodgers and were waiting for his decision, according to league sources.
The level of involvement is still unclear as multiple league executives believe the Steelers have inquired on Rodgers.
The Packers are over the salary cap with contracts of Adams, Campbell and Douglas.
They are now $27.5 million over the cap, thanks to the re-negotiation of left tackle David Bakhtiari, defensive tackle Kenny Clark, and running back Aaron Jones.
If a long-term deal isn't completed by 4pm, the Packers will use the franchise tag on Adams. The deadline is Tuesday. Green Bay wants Adams to stay.
Rob Demovsky was a contributor to this report.
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