Aaron Rodgers denies report that he’s seeking to become highest-paid player in NFL history

If the Packers want Aaron Rodgers to return to Green Bay in 2022, they’re likely going to have to offer him a lot of money to make it happen. 

Although Rodgers hasn’t yet made a decision about his future, it appears he has made a decision about how much he thinks he should be paid in 2022. According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Packers quarterback is looking for a new deal that will pay him more money per year than any other player in NFL history.  

“He wants to be the highest-paid player in the NFL by a wide margin, so we’re talking about $50 million per year,” Russini said this week on “The Rich Eisen Show.” 

Rodgers was asked on Friday about the speculation that he wanted to be the highest-paid player by a wide margin and he told Pat McAfee that the report was “categorically false.” Of course, this could be simple semantics. Rodgers might want to be the highest-paid player, but he might be fine with $46 million per year instead of $50 million per year. 

Russini also reported this week that multiple teams have already called the Packers about possibly be making a trade for their star quarterback. If Rodgers is seeking something in the neighborhood of $50 million per year, that will definitely add an interesting twist to any trade talks the Packers might have. 

If the Packers are willing to give Rodgers a salary anywhere near $50 million, it would instantly make him the NFL’s highest-paid player. The current title of highest-paid player belongs to Patrick Mahomes, who signed a 10-year, $450 million extension in July that could pay out as much as $503 million. 

Of course, if the Packers do give Rodgers a new deal that pays him anywhere in that neighborhood, they’re going to have to work some serious salary cap magic to make it happen. The Packers are currently nearly $40 million OVER the cap and that doesn’t even include the cap hit that will come if they re-sign or tag