Raiders Rumors: Aaron Rodgers Expected to Interest LV After Tom Brady's Retirement

The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly believed to be interested in potentially acquiring future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers.

According to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, the Raiders were "absolutely" counting on Tom Brady to be available in free agency. Now that he has retired, Rodgers will reportedly be on their radar.

Longtime Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr was inactive for the final two games of the regular season in favor of Jarrett Stidham, meaning Las Vegas will almost certainly trade or release Carr during the offseason and be on the lookout for a replacement.

Rodgers' status with the Packers for 2023 is in flux. If the Packers stick with Rodgers, it could compel them to trade 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love, who has not had much chance to prove his capability as a starting NFL quarterback over his first three seasons.

Conversely, if the Packers opt to move forward with Love, they would have to trade away arguably the greatest quarterback in franchise history in Rodgers.

While the 39-year-old Rodgers has spent his entire 18-year NFL career in Green Bay, he has made it clear that he is open to a trade if it is the best option for all parties.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (h/t ESPN's Rob Demovsky) last week, Rodgers said he is "open to all honest and direct conversations" and that a trade "wouldn't offend me, and it wouldn't make me feel like a victim."

If a trade does occur, the New York Jets are widely thought to be a likely landing spot for Rodgers with Zach Wilson unlikely to get another crack at the starting quarterback job.

New Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was also Rodgers' OC in Green Bay from 2019 to 2021. With Hackett pulling the strings, Rodgers won the third and fourth NFL MVP awards of his career in 2020 and 2021.

Of course, Rodgers also has a significant link to the Raiders in the form of wide receiver Davante Adams, who was Rodgers' top target for much of his eight-year tenure with the Packers from 2014 to 2021.

The Packers traded Adams to the Raiders last offseason so he could be reunited with his college teammate in Carr, but that combination will almost certainly be broken up after only one season.

Adams was excellent again this season with 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns en route to being named a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro, but he enjoyed some huge seasons with Rodgers as well.

From 2018 to 2021, Adams had at least 110 catches for 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns in three of those four seasons. He scored a career-high 18 touchdowns in 2020 and set career highs with 123 receptions for 1,553 yards in 2021.

If the Raiders can find a way to re-sign running back Josh Jacobs and keep wide receiver Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller in the fold alongside Adams, adding Rodgers would perhaps make them a threat in the AFC West on the heels of a disappointing 2022.

This season was a down year for Rodgers, as he had his fewest passing yards ever in a full season as a starter and his most interceptions since his first season as a starter in 2008, but he is still a year removed from back-to-back MVP campaigns.

Adams played a massive role in those MVP seasons, as evidenced by how Rodgers' play dipped when he was traded, so linking them back up could be a winning move for the Raiders if the Packers do indeed make Rodgers available.