Aaron Rodgers is apparently on the verge of deciding where his sporting future will lie. Meanwhile, salary figures are circulating that have not been seen before in the NFL. But in this particular case, they are quite realistic.

Munich – Something big could be coming to the NFL. The fattest contract in league history. Because that’s exactly what Aaron Rodgers is said to be pushing for, as Diana Russini recently hinted.

On the “Rich Eisen Show”, the “ESPN” reporter reported that, according to her information, the star quarterback wants to earn “50 million US dollars a year”: “He wants to be the highest-paid player in the NFL, by a wide margin.” Currently, that honour goes to Patrick Mahomes, with the equivalent of $46 million per season as a result of his ten-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rodgers and salary: McAfee denies mega sum

Pat McAfee, who regularly welcomes Rodgers on his “PatMcAfee Show”, already gave the denial of the “Gunslinger” via text message.

According to him, the information was “fundamentally wrong”.

But he can’t really wipe the excitement about the record numbers off the table with that. Rather, more and more US journalists are racking their brains as to whether the signal-caller, who was once again elected league MVP, will also be striving for a historic payday in addition to optimal prospects for his second Super Bowl.

Rapoport on Rodgers: “He’s not about the money “

NFL insider Ian Rapoport, speaking to McAfee, said he expects the Green Bay Packers to make their poster boy the highest-paid pro. However, he also cautions, “Aaron Rodgers could have taken the money last year. But if we remember, he didn’t. (…) I don’t think – from what I’ve heard – that he’s in it for the money.”

What is certain, however, is that Rodgers is better paid, he said. Currently, the 38-year-old is playing for $134 million under the four-year contract signed in 2018. In 2022, he would be entitled to just under US$26.5 million in base salary. Most recently, he had collected only small sums – mostly US$1.1 million – along the way to minimise cap space.

Packers are busy shovelling cap space – for Rodgers?

As it stands now, Rodgers would add more than $46.6 million to the Packers’ salary cap for the upcoming season. This is pointed out by “CBS” reporter John Breech, who can very well imagine that Rodgers’ denial was solely aimed at the amount itself and that he could also live with a lower payment – as long as he becomes the NFL’s top earner.

Only through layoffs or contract adjustments on a grand scale would “the Pack” be able to act at all in the offseason. Because currently, according to “Spotrac”, the franchise is overstretching the salary cap by more than 28 million US dollars.

Still. Because the front office has already been busy. David Bakhtiari’s contract was just restructured, as were those of Aaron Jones and Kenny Clark a few days earlier. This freed up some US$23 million.

Rodgers for Packers the first domino

Breech estimates that signing Rodgers to a new contract could free up another US$20 million to US$25 million or even more in cap space. However, in order to land more stars or even just to be able to bind mate Davante Adams, it will certainly take more contracts to be brought up to scratch.

Brian Gutekunst has already made it clear that everything stands and falls with Rodgers. The quarterback is the first domino, the general manager told “nfl.com”. The plan for the 2022 season stands and falls with him. There is no question that the Packers will stretch for their number 12 like they have never stretched for a player before.

Rodgers prospect would have no problem with mega salary

Because even the competition is apparently not deterred by the sums that have been rumoured. Russini also revealed she had received a response from an interested team, when asked about the possible US$50 million annual salary, “We’d get that done. We would find a way.”

To Rodgers, that may sound like music to his ears. For the NFL, it means exciting days are ahead. After all, the wooed player wants to make a decision in the next few days.