Aaron Rodgers committed his future to the Green Bay Packers in the off-season, signing a contract extension that will see him earn $150.8 million with the franchise over the next three years.
Rodgers, who has broken many records in the league, has won just one Super Bowl ring during his 17 years with the Packers. That success came in 2011 when his side beat the San Francisco 49ers. The QB will be hoping to add at least one more before he retires.
The 38-year-old has been in fantastic form over the last two years. Last season he won the MVP award for the fourth time in his career. In the 2021/22 campaign, he recorded over 4,000 passing yards, had 40 touchdowns (37 passing, 3 rushing) and he had just four interceptions.
The Packers finished the 2021/22 regular season with a 13-4 record, the best, not just in the NFC, but in the whole of the NFL. It was largely down to the consistency Rodgers showed in the quarterback position.
Green Bay went into the playoffs earlier this year as the number one seeds in the NFC. However, their run lasted just one game, as the San Francisco 49ers beat them 13-10 at Lambeau Field in the Divisional Round.
In the game against the 49ers, the Packers’ offense failed to fire in the way it had done throughout the regular season. San Francisco’s defense were able to dominate in a low-scoring game.
Packers Lose Adams but Add Watkins and Reed
Wide receiver Davante Adams has been Rodgers’ main target since the former was drafted by the Packers in 2014. In his eight years with the franchise, he scored 73 touchdowns in the regular season, establishing himself as one of the elite players in his position in the NFL.
Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders back in March for their first-round and second-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. It allowed Green Bay to have three picks across the opening two rounds earlier this year. They opted to bolster their defense, with their first-round picks being an inside linebacker and a defensive tackle.
The Packers were able to add to their roster in the free agency in the offseason. One of the highlights of their signings was the deal they did for Jarran Reed. The defensive end played five seasons for the Seattle Seahawks between 2016 and 2020 where he was a big part of their outstanding defence.
In 2021, Reed played all 17 games for the Kansas City Chiefs. He has been signed on a one-year deal for $3.25 million by Green Bay. There are also incentives in his contract which could see that figure go up to $4.5 million.
The Packers have also added former Super Bowl winner Sammy Watkins to their roster. In 2019, he scored nine touchdowns in one season for the Buffalo Bills. He will be hoping to produce something similar in 2022 with Rodgers as his QB.
Reed and Watkins should help Green Bay in their pursuit of the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season. As of the 29th of August, the Packers are 12/1 in the online betting to win Super Bowl LVII.
Bills and Bucs Biggest Challengers in NFC
The Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to be the strongest challengers to the Packers in the NFL this year. Both of those two teams have an elite QB and a strong roster in the league.
Buffalo were beaten in the Divisional Round of the playoffs last season by the Kansas City Chiefs. They are led on the field by Josh Allen, a QB who has thrown for over 4,000 passing yards in each of the last two seasons.
In Tampa, the Buccaneers were boosted by the news that seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady had returned to the franchise for the new season. Their QB had initially announced he was retiring, but he made a U-turn on that decision.
The Super Bowl LV winners have a very experienced roster. They will be coached by Todd Bowles this season after Bruce Arians retired following three years in charge of the team earlier this year. Green Bay open up their new season against divisional rivals Minnesota Vikings on September 11.
