The Los Angeles Rams threw a Hail Mary, but Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers knocked it down without a second thought.
According to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, the Rams “ considered taking a hard run ” for a trade for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers before finally reaching a deal for Matthew Stafford, but the Packers turned down the trade questions and were ‘adamant’ about the suspected MVP not to trade.
The Rams also looked at Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans, per Farmer, highlighting Los Angeles’ wide net cast to upgrade to quarterback through the trade market.
With Rodgers and Watson out of the picture, the Rams struck a deal that sent Jared Goff and future first-round picks to the Lions for Stafford, who wanted to leave Detroit.
This is the first reported attempt at a trade for Rodgers, who is expected to win his third MVP award after throwing 48 touchdown passes and leading the NFL in completion percentage and passer rating in 2020. The Packers traded in the first round to draft Jordan. Love last April and may eventually transition from Rodgers to start the Love era, but no transition appears to be imminent.
In fact, it is certainly possible that the conversation between the Rams and Packers went quickly. The Rams, doing their due diligence in an effort to get better at quarterback, had to call the Packers about Rodgers. An adamant denial suggests the Packers weren’t at all interested in even having the conversation.
All signs continue to point to Rodgers being Packers’ quarterback in 2021.