When the Green Bay Packers traded up to select quarterback Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft, it showed that the team had started to plan for life without the legendary Aaron Rodgers. Little did they know, Rodgers would respond by winning MVP in the 2020-21 season while leading the Packers to the No. 1 seed and the NFC Championship game.
With all the chaos going on currently between Rodgers and the Packers front office, let's take a look back over his 15-year career and build an all-time offense from the teammates Rodgers has played with.
Running back: Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones was set to become a free agent after the 2020-21 season, but he and the Packers were able to agree to a deal to keep him with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. After scoring eight rushing touchdowns in 2018, Jones doubled that number in 2019 (lead the league), and added three more scores through the air. In 2020, Jones rushed for a career high 1,104 yards while doing so with less carries than the year prior.
The Packers took Boston College RB A.J. Dillon in the second round in 2020, but Jones should still get the majority of touches, with Dillon being used in short-yardage situations. His receiving ability gives head coach Matt LaFleur plenty of options, and he should be a staple in the offense for years to come.
Wide receiver: Davante Adams, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings
Davante Adams has blossomed into one of the league's best receivers over the past three seasons. His route running is pristine and his hands are reliable. He's made four straight Pro Bowls and during that time has caught has developed into one of if not the best wide receiver in the entire NFL. He's a true No. 1 wideout and has been Rodgers' favorite target for good reason.
Prior to Adams, Jordy Nelson was Rodgers' go to option. A 2008 second-rounder, it took a few seasons before Nelson broke out, but from 2011-2016, he was one of the NFL's most productive wideouts. As a Packer, he totaled 550 receptions for 7,848 yards and 69 scores, spending nine seasons in Green Bay. His best year came in 2014, when he hauled in 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 13 TDs.
Greg Jennings was Aaron Rodgers' primary target before Nelson, and was a second-round pick in 2006. Over seven seasons with the Packers, Jennings caught 425 passes for 6,537 yards and 53 touchdowns. In the team's Super Bowl XLIV victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jennings caught four passes for 64 yards and two scores.
He's also famous for scoring a long touchdown with a broken leg. Okay, so that last part was in Madden. But it still counts.
Tight end: Jermichael Finley
Since Finley left following the 2013 campaign, and tight end had been a problem area for the Packers ever since before Robert Tonyan's emergence in 2020. Finley was as sure-handed as they come during his time with Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay, catching 69% of his targets and having four seasons where he hauled in over 70%, including a mark of 80.8% in 2010. His best year was 2011, as he caught 55 passes for 767 yards and eight TDs.
In 2013, Finley suffered a serious spinal cord injury that put a halt to his NFL career. Thankfully, he regained feeling and movement the next day, but did not play another snap in the NFL.
Left tackle: David Bakhtiari
From 2007-2018, James Campen coached the offensive line, and developed some excellent players. Bakhtiari was a fourth-round pick in 2013 and has since become one of the game's elite pass protectors, making the All-Pro team every single year from 2016 to 2020. He and Aaron Rodgers are close off the field as well and Bakhtiari recently was rewarded for his play with a massive contract extension from the Packers.
Left guard: Josh Sitton
Sitton, also a fourth-round pick, was drafted in 2008 and made three Pro Bowls in eight seasons, plus another with the rival Chicago Bears before calling it a career. Sitton was known for keeping things loose in the huddle and with the team and provided consistent protection on the offensive line for the Packers.
Center: Corey Linsley
A 2014 fifth-rounder, Linsley started right away and has become one of the better centers in the league. J.C. Tretter, a fourth-round selection the year before, struggled with injuries over his three seasons with the Packers, but signed a large contract with the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and has been one of the league's best pass protectors since.
Linsley signed a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 after becoming an unrestricted free agent. With the Packers being strapped to the salary cap, they didn't have the financial means to extend an offer to Linsley that fit what he deserved.
Right guard: T.J. Lang
Another fourth-round pick, Lang was drafted in 2009 and spent two seasons as a backup before starting for six years as one of the best guards in the league. He was a Pro Bowler in 2016, and again in 2017, this time with the rival Detroit Lions. Lang was as steady as they came on the offensive line in his time in Wisconsin.
Right tackle: Bryan Bulaga
The highest-drafted player on this list, Bulaga was the 23rd overall pick in 2010 out of the offensive line factory known as the University of Iowa. He's never made a Pro Bowl, and has struggled with injuries from time to time, but Bulaga was worth his draft spot. He started nine seasons for the Packers, and is now with the Los Angeles Chargers at the age of 32.
The Packers have been chastised over the past few years for neglecting to add talent around Aaron Rodgers, but it's clear that throughout No. 12's career, he's had some great players around him that have helped Green Bay to be one of the league's best teams for over 16 years.
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