With the 2020 NFL Draft in the history books, just about every mock draft for 2021 has the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence first overall. Of course, those are all based on the team’s Super Bowl LV odds as the Jags are listed with the worst odds by many in Vegas, including BetMGM, who has them down for odds of 150/1 (tied with the Washington Redskins).
Of course, a lot will hinge on Gardner Minshew II proving he can be the guy after he had a rather interesting season where he led the Jags to a 6-6 record and won seven Pepsi Rookie of the Year Awards. However, if he isn’t the guy many are hoping for, the Jags will be in a situation where they need to find a new answer at quarterback in 2021.
If the Jags elect not to go with a rookie selection in 2021, the only other options would be through trade or free agency. Interestingly enough, some believe there is a slim chance that future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers could be one of the players on the trade block.
As many are aware, the Green Bay Packers selected Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the No. 26 overall selection after trading up to the spot with the Miami Dolphins. Now, with such draft capital invested in him, clearly Jordan Love is a player who the Packers will want to see on the field in the coming years.
As a result, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin laid out some scenarios in the event that Rodgers is traded, and lo and behold, the Jags were listed — albeit at the last slot:
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are betting a lot on former sixth-round pick Gardner Minshew in 2020, and considering the QB’s supporting cast, it wouldn’t be a stunner if Jacksonville were once again picking in the top 10 in 2021. That alone means they’re probably more likely to pursue their future face of the franchise through the draft. Still, only two teams have more projected cap space for 2021, and the Jags also have six picks in the first four rounds of next year’s draft (i.e. lots of trade ammunition). Nothing would reignite a Florida fan base taken hostage by Tom Brady like Rodgers calling TIAA Bank Field home.
Rodgers might not be gung-ho about joining an AFC South cellar-dweller, but he’d likely be reuniting with new Jags assistant Ben McAdoo, who served as the Packers’ QBs coach from 2012-13, when Rodgers had a 39-touchdown season and led Green Bay to back-to-back NFC North titles. It doesn’t hurt No. 12 is apparently an increasing fan of beachfront property.
As crazy as some may view it, Benjamin could be on to something here if Rodgers miraculously is traded next season. As we’ve mentioned at times here on Jags Wire, the Jags’ trading away expensive veterans like Calais Campbell, A.J. Bouye, and Nick Foles put them in tremendous shape cap-wise in 2020. Per Spotrac, the Jags are projected to have just under $100 million in cap space next year and only the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore Ravens will have more.
As for the draft compensation the Jags are working with next year, they are sitting on two first-round selections thanks to the Los Angeles Rams and Jalen Ramsey. That makes them a little more dangerous than any other team if Rodgers was shopped in 2021 (which, again, feels like a long shot).
As for Rodgers’ relationship with McAdoo, it seems like Rodgers is a big fan of him. This was something we discussed back when the Jags hired McAdoo in February as Rodgers has been on record for praising him during his time as the Packers’ quarterbacks coach. Maybe the relationship is one that could help avoid any friction between Rodgers and the staff, too, as that is believed by some to be a reason they drafted Love.
Add in the possibility of the Jags’ offensive talent developing with D.J. Chark like Laviska Shenault, and maybe some growth out of tight end Josh Oliver in 2020, and the Jags may have a somewhat appealing group for Rodgers.
Right now, a Rodgers trade is crazy to even process and we have to get through 2020 before this even remotely becomes a small possibility (if at all). Then again, if the Packers move on in 2021, Rodgers to the Jags may not be as ridiculous as it sounds when looking at the fact that Tom Brady will play for the Tampa Bay Bucs this year.