Is Aaron Rodgers returning to Packers in 2023? Former NFL MVP has nowhere to go

Aaron Rodgers is once again dominating NFL offseason headlines thanks to his precarious position with the Green Bay Packers. Just a year ago, there were rumors that he could retire or join a new team, only to agree on a three-year deal worth $50 million annually with Green Bay.

So, why are the rumors back again? Well, the team still has 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love waiting in the wings. If they don't start him now, it's fair to question if they ever will.

That has led Rodgers to be linked to teams like the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, and even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, he has never said he was leaving. ESPN's Jeff Darlington on Wednesday said a source with Green Bay said the star will be back this season with the Packers.

Darlington said that the source said the quarterback's contract as an easy reason why he will return in 2023. So, does this mean the Rodgers rumors are done this offseason for good?

The Packers still have a huge decision to make involving Aaron Rodgers' successor

Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers

Love was a first-round pick in 2020, meaning the team must make a decision on his fifth-year option this spring. That value sits at just over $20 million for the 2024 season. That is a serious commitment to make to someone who won't have any experience by the time that salary kicks in.

The situation would not be nearly as dramatic if the team didn't draft a replacement before Rodgers' time was truly up. This is a self-inflicted issue, and one that will continually come up until the quarterback leaves Green Bay one way or another.

But even without considering the Love situation, something else is keeping the veteran in Green Bay. That is his massive salary at the age of 39. A team may take on his deal, only to essentially get a one-year rental and several years of cap concerns.

While Tom Brady played until he was 45, he is considered the best ever. Rodgers having similar success after the age of 40 is no guarantee. His desire to play that long is not guaranteed either.

So, ultimately, he may not have anywhere to go except back to Green Bay, even if he wants to leave. If he was a free agent, the situation may be different. But the Packers gave him a player-friendly deal, and other teams may rather go with a younger option, or even choose to save money for a year and gear up for a new franchise signal-caller.

Derek Carr may be the top quarterback to focus on in terms of a marquee player joining a new team, while Lamar Jackson is a close second. Rodgers seems set to return to Green Bay, no matter how much that affects the development of Love and the team's future plans. If both sides believe in the contract he signed last year, 2023 should be business as usual.