Aaron Rodgers’ future stays in limbo with Packers’ silence

Aaron Rodgers called his Packers future a “beautiful mystery” before last season’s NFC Championship game.

A couple of months later, that sentiment still rings true.

With a divorce from Rodgers feasible after next season, team president Mark Murphy declined to offer any assurances on the 37-year-old’s future, and why the Packers have so far opted not to restructure or extend his contract.

“I can’t really get into specific players,” Murphy said according to ESPN. “We’ve been able to create room with others.”

Murphy was asked twice more about Rodgers specifically — and both times declined to discuss specifics regarding the three-time MVP.

Green Bay has restructured the contracts of six players this offseason for cap flexibility, but have not touched the deal of their legendary signal-caller. The team declined to convert his March roster bonus of $6.8 million into a signing bonus, a move that would have kicked cap charges down the road and signaled a commitment to future years.

The Packers could choose to move on from Rodgers — under contract until 2023 — after next season and gain between $22 million and $25 million in cap room, per ESPN. The report also said “those familiar with Rodgers’ thinking believe he wants assurances that he’s not a lame-duck quarterback” next season.

Rodgers first raised alarm bells when he called his future with the Packers “uncertain” following the NFC Championship game to the Buccaneers. As speculation of an immediate divorce grew, Murphy finally put out the flames.

“There’s no way in heck Aaron is not going to be on the Packers … we’re not idiots,” Murphy told Green Bay radio station WNFL in January.

For how long is the question now.

The Packers used a first-round pick on quarterback Jordan Love in 2020, a move reminiscent of Rodgers’ time spent behind Brett Favre and one that shows the Packers are at least beginning to think of parting with Rodgers.

He tossed a ridiculous 48 touchdowns for 4,299 yards last season, leading Green Bay to a 13-3 record before bowing out one game short of the Super Bowl.