Aaron Rodgers

The NFL calendar continues to bring major events, even though we're in the middle of the offseason. After the 2022 NFL draft wrapped up, the full schedule release was the next big thing for fans to look forward to. Even if we already knew who would play each other, we now know the logistical details for each team. 

The difference in playing two contenders in a row across the country compared to two bottom-feeders in a row at home is massive. The league is also as deep as it has ever been, so the margin for error in several divisions is tiny. Losing one or two unexpected games can completely change the playoff picture.

We're diving into the 2022 NFL schedule release to find the two biggest winners and two biggest losers. The winners must still convert on their opportunity and the losers still have the ability to overcome their first obstacle. A Super Bowl journey isn't complete without a little luck.

   

Winner: Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are coming off an excellent offseason when they added a veteran quarterback in Matt Ryan, a star cornerback in Stephon Gilmore and a high-upside pass-rusher in Yannick Ngakoue. This was the time for Chris Ballard to push his chips in on a quality roster and he executed well.

The Colts are already off to an advantageous start in 2022 after evaluating their schedule. They have the easiest schedule, according to DraftKings' team win projections. Their inherent advantage begins with AFC South bottom-feeders in Houston and Jacksonville. 

Indianapolis also plays the NFC East. Both Dallas and Philadelphia are quality teams, but neither is head-and-shoulders better than the Colts. As a division, the NFC East has only one team projected to win more games than lose.

Getting the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs at home are also notable advantages. Ryan will be relied upon to be the difference in these games. Carson Wentz couldn't be trusted in the most critical games of the year and was the primary factor in collapsing down the stretch of 2021.

There's still a rough patch for the Colts to deal with. Going on the road to face Denver, Dallas, New England and Minnesota is notable. In total, they face nine teams with 8.5 or more projected wins. 

Alas, this schedule release could have been much worse for the Colts' playoff hopes. Opening at Houston and Jacksonville should lead to at least a 2-1 start. They finish the year at the New York Giants and at home against the Texans.

They'll also have four prime-time games. 

   

Loser: Kansas City Chiefs

No team has a more challenging schedule in terms of oddsmakers' win totals than the Chiefs. The arms race in the AFC West certainly played a part in this formula, as each of the team's six games against the Chargers, Raiders and Broncos will be a battle. Plus, the Chiefs drew a first-place schedule since they won the division last year.

The bad news is the Chiefs also have to deal with the loaded NFC West. Three teams in the NFC West are projected to win 8.5 or more games. The Chiefs will be relying on rookies Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis and Skyy Moore quite a bit, so the focus will be on young players to step in right away.

The Chiefs also play Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Tennessee and Indianapolis. They're all projected to win 9.5 games. The only positive is they have home games against Tennessee, Los Angeles and Buffalo. 

The three potential easy games are Houston, Seattle and Jacksonville. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes will have earned it if they can once again win the AFC West.

   

Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

After improving their roster by adding star receiver A.J. Brown, pass-rusher Haason Reddick and a draft haul headlined by mammoth nose tackle Jordan Davis, the Eagles have just one question mark at quarterback. If Jalen Hurts is ready to be a franchise passer, the Eagles are a major sleeper in the NFC race. Their favorable schedule will also help Hurts reach his ceiling.

Getting the second-easiest schedule per win totals will take some pressure off Philadelphia from having to go all-out all season long. Away games against Chicago, Detroit and Houston should be wins on paper. Then factor in divisional games against Washington and New York, and it's not hard to see a pathway to double-digit wins.

The hard games include home games against Green Bay, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Tennessee. However, only Green Bay can say it has a better overall roster than Philadelphia right now.

The three-week stretch from Nov. 20 through Dec. 4 includes a trip to Indianapolis and the home games against the Packers and Titans. Still, it'll be hard for the Eagles to complain when their opponents' 2021 win percentage was .464, 30th of all teams. 

    

Loser: Green Bay Packers

Teams that are given the dreaded London trip always get a tough draw. Instead of getting a bye after traveling to London against the New York Giants in Week 5, the Packers host the New York Jets the following Sunday. Week 7 features a road game at Washington after the Commanders enjoy a home game.

The next five weeks have several difficult battles as well. After Washington, Green Bay travels to Buffalo and then Detroit. That's followed by a midafternoon home game against Dallas on Nov. 13 followed by hosting Tennessee on Thursday Night Football four nights later. 

Their reward after Tennessee is a Sunday Night Football game at Philadelphia to close out November.

The Packers are traveling a ridiculous amount without much rest. Getting the London game so early and then having to wait until Week 14 for their bye week is rough. Green Bay is a highly talented team but will go through the gauntlet.

The Los Angeles Rams are running it back for 2022, and now they know their path to a second straight Super Bowl title.

The NFL rolled out the full schedule for all 32 teams for the upcoming season.

The campaign will get underway Thursday, September 8 with the Rams hosting the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.

All roads lead to State Farm Stadium for Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12.

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Key Dates

Thursday, September 8: 2022 season opener

Sunday, September 11: Kickoff weekend

February 12, 2023: Super Bowl LVII (State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona)

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Team-by-Team Schedules

AFC East

• Buffalo Bills
• Miami Dolphins
• New England Patriots
• New York Jets

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AFC North

• Baltimore Ravens
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Pittsburgh Steelers

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AFC South

• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Tennessee Titans

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AFC West

• Denver Broncos
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Los Angeles Chargers

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NFC East

• Dallas Cowboys
• New York Giants
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Washington Commanders

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NFC North

• Chicago Bears
• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers
• Minnesota Vikings

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NFC South

• Atlanta Falcons
• Carolina Panthers
• New Orleans Saints
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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NFC West

• Arizona Cardinals
• Los Angeles Rams
• San Francisco 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks

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Division to Watch: AFC West

Here are the starting quarterbacks in the AFC West: Derek Carr, Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson.

The quarterback position has never been more important than it is now, and the presence of Mahomes has forced the Kansas City Chiefs' division rivals to collectively raise their level. Maybe the Denver Broncos still trade for Wilson even if they don't have to worry about playing Mahomes twice a year, but it's easy to tie the two things together.

The high QB standard across the AFC West has had a corresponding effect on how teams have approached their pass rush. The Broncos (Randy Gregory), Las Vegas Raiders (Chandler Jones) and Los Angeles Chargers (Khalil Mack) all made notable additions to their front seven.

Edge rushers in the AFC West:

Broncos: Randy Gregory, Bradley Chubb
Raiders: Chandler Jones, Maxx Crosby
Chargers: Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa
Chiefs: Frank Clark and Mike Danna

KC has a lot of work to do in this area

— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) March 16, 2022

Once the season begins, the Chiefs will likely be the favorites to win the division, but any of the other three teams could plausibly claim the AFC West crown.

the rest of the NFL looking at the AFC West pic.twitter.com/B6zDDUzHNA

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) March 17, 2022

Herbert set NFL records for the most passing yards (9,350) and passing touchdowns (69) through the first two years of a career, per Stathead. The Chargers supplemented their defense by signing J.C. Jackson and acquiring Mack from the Chicago Bears.

The Broncos got Wilson, Gregory and D.J. Jones to build further on what was a solid foundation.

The Raiders signed Jones to pair with Maxx Crosby and then shocked the NFL by trading for Davante Adams and giving him what was at the time the biggest contract ever for a wide receiver.

Every game between AFC West teams is basically appointment viewing for fans.

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Most Anticipated Matchup: Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers

As things stand now, the balance of power seems to rest firmly in the AFC. Even San Francisco 49ers star Deebo Samuel couldn't refrain from commenting on how the NFC watched a lot of talent leave:

Conference getting easy and easier by the day

— Deebo (@19problemz) March 18, 2022

But somebody still has to represent the conference in the Super Bowl, and the battle might come down to the Rams and Green Bay Packers.

In Green Bay, the excitement generated by the return of Aaron Rodgers, who agreed to a three-year, $150 million extension, was offset by the news of the Adams trade. The Packers went from employing one of the NFL's best receivers to potentially having Allen Lazard as their No. 1 wideout.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Rodgers didn't expect Adams to return for this coming season, though, when he was working on a new deal with Green Bay. The front office may have already mapped out how it intends to bolster its passing game.

And for all of the justified concerns about the Adams trade, the Packers still re-signed De'Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas. They shouldn't be falling off a cliff.

Likewise, the defending champion Rams won't be going anywhere despite losing Von Miller to free agency and Andrew Whitworth to retirement. They signed Bobby Wagner to address Miller's departure.

Taking a quick look around the NFC, every other serious contender has at least one major question mark.

The San Francisco 49ers are entrusting Trey Lance, who threw 71 passes as a rookie, with the offense. The Arizona Cardinals melted down in the second halves of 2020 and 2021. At some point, Tom Brady surely has to hit a wall, right? And the Dallas Cowboys are, well, the Cowboys.

When the Rams make the trip to Lambeau Field, it could be a preview of the NFC title game.

Ahead of the official schedule release for the 2022 NFL season on Thursday, the NFL announced a marquee game Wednesday for Week 10.

The league heralded a huge matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, which will take place on Nov. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Two iconic franchises face off in Week 10 this season on @NFLonFOX 🤠🧀@dallascowboys | @packers

📺: 2022 NFL Schedule Release -- TOMORROW at 8pm ET on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/H3GkXzxV1j

— NFL (@NFL) May 11, 2022

Given the timing of the game, it could have huge playoff implications for both the Dak Prescott-led Cowboys and Aaron Rodgers-led Packers.

Regardless of their standing, a game between the Cowboys and Packers is always a big deal.

The genesis of the rivalry occurred during the 1960s and most famously included the Ice Bowl in 1967.

Dallas and Green Bay locked horns in below-zero temperatures in the 1967 NFL Championship Game at Lambeau Field, and the Packers prevailed 21-17 by virtue of a quarterback sneak for a touchdown by Green Bay legend Bart Starr in the closing seconds.

Overall, the Cowboys and Packers have faced off eight times in the playoffs, splitting the series at 4-4. In 29 regular-season games, the Packers hold a 16-13 advantage.

The Cowboys largely dominated the Packers in the 1990s, eliminating Green Bay from the playoffs in three straight seasons from 1993 through 1995, but the Packers have gotten the better of Dallas in recent years.

Green Bay has beaten Dallas in back-to-back playoff meetings in memorable fashion.

Most notably, the Packers defeated the Cowboys 26-21 during the 2014 postseason after a play that was initially ruled a catch by Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant was reversed upon review.

The fourth-down play would have given Dallas the ball near the end zone if it was upheld, but the ball went to Green Bay instead, and it was able to run the clock out.

The Packers subsequently beat the Cowboys again during the 2016 playoffs thanks to a miraculous 36-yard pass from Rodgers to tight end Jared Cook and a 3rd-and-20 play, followed by a 51-yard field goal by Mason Crosby as time expired to give Green Bay a 34-31 triumph.

Green Bay has won three consecutive games against Dallas.

While Cowboys vs. Packers is always significant, it may be even more important in 2022, as both teams won their respective divisions last season and established themselves as contenders in the NFC.

Based on who wins in Week 10, it could say a lot about where the road to the Super Bowl will go through in the NFC.

Perhaps Davante Adams' departure from Titletown to Las Vegas becomes a blessing in disguise for the Green Bay Packers. Of course, no team wants to trade away its best wide receiver and two-time All-Pro, but now the Packers must transform their offense, which may lead to optimal playoff results. 

The Las Vegas Raiders won the trade with Green Bay. They gave up a first-round pick (No. 22 overall) and a second-rounder (No. 53) for arguably the league's top wideout, and he'll fill a major need for them. Nonetheless, the Packers' post-Adams plan may change their identity for the better and extend quarterback Aaron Rodgers' career. 

Surprisingly, the Packers didn't use either of their first-round picks on a wide receiver. They selected inside linebacker Quay Walker and defensive end Devonte Wyatt. Both defenders played in one of the best defenses in college football history.

Walker will line up alongside All-Pro linebacker De'Vondre Campbell as an immediate playmaker against the run. He's a sure tackler who diagnoses plays quickly, which allows him to make stops all over the field. Wyatt can disrupt the opposing team's passing game at the line of scrimmage. In a rotational role, he recorded seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season.

Green Bay didn't have a clear-cut starter to pair with Campbell, and the front office tried to patch up its interior run defense in free agency with defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who signed a one-year deal. 

Walker and Wyatt will strengthen a run defense that allowed the third-most yards per rush attempt (4.7) last season. They're the potential missing links for an otherwise solid defense that ranked 13th in scoring and ninth in yards allowed last season. 

The Packers selected wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs in the second and fourth rounds of the 2022 draft, correspondingly. Based on draft status, rookie seventh-rounder Samori Toure will likely need time to develop in the pros. We shouldn't expect any of them to make a leap from the collegiate level to the top three spots on the depth chart. 

Rodgers has a rapport with wideouts Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard. Per Pat McAfee, he's excited about the addition of Sammy Watkins, who brings eight years of pro experience. 

However, Rodgers cannot rely on any of those veteran receivers on a weekly basis. Cobb and Watkins have seen their receiving numbers decline every year since 2019. The former turns 32 years old in August, and the latter hasn't played through a full season since his 2014 rookie term, missing at least four games in three of the last four years. Both wideouts have just one 1,000-plus-yard campaign on their resumes.

At 6'5", 227 pounds, Lazard has great size for the red zone and recorded eight touchdown catches last year, but he doesn't have more than 40 receptions or 513 receiving yards in any of his four seasons. 

Overall, the Packers have a solid stable of wideouts, though no one jumps out as Pro Bowl or All-Pro talent this year. Green Bay probably won't field a top-10 passing offense for the upcoming season, but Rodgers will have an array of targets from well-seasoned veterans to high-upside rookies. 

Head coach Matt LaFleur knows how to transform the Packers offense following Adams' departure, and he has the personnel to do it. 

Remember, LaFleur broke into the pro coaching ranks with the Houston Texans as an offensive quality control assistant under former NFL head coach Gary Kubiak and served as an offensive coordinator on Sean McVay's Los Angeles Rams staff. Both lead skippers have relied on an effective ground attack as a staple in their offenses.

Moreover, while the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans in 2018, LaFleur saw running back Derrick Henry's emergence in a featured role and how he stabilized the offense despite quarterback Marcus Mariota's modest passing numbers and issues with durability. 

In the Packers backfield, running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon combined for 1,602 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry last year. They could lead the way for a more balanced and physical offensive attack behind a rock-solid offensive line. 

Two-time All-Pro tackle David Bakhtiari, left guard Jon Runyan and center Josh Myers project as starters for the upcoming campaign. Once Elgton Jenkins recovers from a torn ACL, he'll likely fill the right tackle spot. Green Bay also added Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom in the third and fourth rounds of the 2022 draft, respectively. The rookie offensive linemen offer versatility in case the coaching staff has to shuffle the unit because of injuries as it did in 2021. They could challenge Royce Newman for his spot at right guard.

With a stronger ground attack, the Packers can extend Rodgers' career, which should be one of their objectives after they made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at 38 years old. 

Despite all the accolades on Rodgers' resume—four-time league MVP, four-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowler—he's 11-10 as a primary starter in the playoffs with only one Super Bowl title. We shouldn't count win-loss records as quarterback stats, but clearly the Packers have underperformed in postseason action with one of the best signal-callers in the game.

Green Bay has to do something different to go beyond NFC North titles and early playoff exits. Without Adams, the team should revert to an approach that worked in 2010 when the Packers hoisted the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the campaign.

That season, Green Bay's defense allowed the second-fewest points and ranked fifth in yards allowed. Rodgers had a decent but not spectacular year, throwing for 3,922 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He didn't make a Pro Bowl or All-Pro roster that year.

Though the Packers' rushing attack ranked 24th in yards during that term, they outrushed three of their four postseason opponents.

Green Bay didn't outgain the Pittsburgh Steelers on the ground in Super XLV, but its defense forced three turnovers, which certainly impacted the outcome of the game. 

Since that Super Bowl year, the Packers haven't ranked top 10 in points and yards allowed in a season, but they can change that with the current roster and bring along an effective ground game to cover any rough patches in the aerial attack.

With home games at the Frozen Tundra, Green Bay should be suited to play a physical brand of football.

As the No. 1 seed, the Packers lost their last two postseason games to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers in the trenches. Green Bay's special teams unit deserves some blame for the loss to San Francisco, but Rodgers took five sacks in both defeats.

Three years ago, in the NFC Championship Game, San Francisco ran for 285 yards on Green Bay's defense at Levi's Stadium. Adams caught nine passes for 138 yards, but the Packers couldn't stop running back Raheem Mostert, who put cleat marks on the face of their defensive front with 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

This year, the Packers can flip the script and change their playoff fortunes with an aggressive attack-style defense and a ground attack that rips off chunk yardage on the road or in the elements at Lambeau Field in January.

While the offensive execution won't look as fluid and finesse in comparison to years past, Rodgers would probably trade in a 40-plus-touchdown season and an MVP award for another Super Bowl ring with a hard-nosed physical football team.

       

College football statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.        

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.

Before selecting Malik Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans pursued a more drastic approach to address the quarterback position.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday on NFL Live the Titans "were dipping their toes" in the Aaron Rodgers trade market and explored a move for Deshaun Watson, only to discover the Houston Texans wouldn't trade him within the division.

The Titans were sending an implicit message by adding Willis. Tannehill is under contract for two more seasons, but Tennessee is already sketching out a possible succession plan.

Considering Willis will likely need a lot of work in order to be a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL, there's no guarantee he'll be the eventual replacement for Tannehill. The Pittsburgh Steelers tabbed Mason Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 draft to potentially take over for Ben Roethlisberger, and they've since moved on to another long-term solution with Kenny Pickett.

That Tennessee considered a trade for Rodgers or Watson signaled a more pressing desire to replace Tannehill.

The 33-year-old saw his numbers decline in 2021. He threw for 3,734 yards, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His 55.9 QBR was the lowest of his Titans tenure, per Pro Football Reference.

Then came the AFC divisional round. Tannehill finished 15-of-24 for 220 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions as the top-seeded Titans were sent packing.

Just as the arrival of Jordan Love seemed to light a fire under Rodgers to stymie the Green Bay Packers' future plans, the selection of Willis could have a galvanizing effect for Tannehill. Granted, he lost his No. 1 wide receiver, A.J. Brown, this offseason.

Tannehill's comment that he doesn't see it as his "job to mentor [Willis]" seem to expose a level of uneasiness he feels about his status within the Titans' plans. Based on Schefter's report, that feeling wouldn't be unwarranted.

The Green Bay Packers traded Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason and then chose not to select a wide receiver with either of their two first-round picks during the 2022 NFL draft on Thursday.

Yet Aaron Rodgers had his mind on another game-changing pass-catcher.

"There's some veteran guys out there that I think could be possibilities," he said during a discussion with the Pat McAfee Show. " … I feel like we've been in the mix, but does San Fran wants to trade Deebo Samuel to us?"

It wouldn't be an NFL draft if the Packers and their decision to not draft an offensive skill position wasn't a storyline.

They selected two Georgia defenders—linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyat—with their two first-round selections.

While both were key players for a Bulldogs team that won the College Football Playoff national championship, wide receiver figured to be a glaring position of need after losing Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the Kansas City Chiefs via free agency this offseason.

Green Bay signed Sammy Watkins, but he, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb look like a group of secondary pass-catchers more than Super Bowl-winning receiving corps.

Adding a star like Samuel would immediately change that, although, as Rodgers said, the 49ers trading him to one of their chief NFC rivals seems unlikely.

After all, San Francisco and Green Bay have faced each other in two of the last three postseasons, with the 49ers winning each matchup. Samuel was a key part of his team's divisional-round win this past season with a nine-yard run on 3rd-and-7 inside Green Bay territory to set up Robbie Gould's game-winning field goal as time expired.

The Pro Bowler was one of the top playmakers in the league with 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns.

Whether he is traded or not figures to remain one of the biggest storylines of the rest of the NFL draft, as will Green Bay's pursuit of another wide receiver.

It seems like an obvious match on paper, but the recent history between the two teams complicates things. Rodgers understands that, and the 49ers would likely need quite a return package to even consider trading Samuel his way.          

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he believes wide receiver Jameson Williams, who went No. 12 overall to the Detroit Lions on Thursday, is the most NFL-ready wideout in this year's draft class during an appearance on Pat McAfee's Draft Spectacular.

However, he also noted that it didn't appear there was a receiver the caliber of the Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson this season.

Aaron Rodgers says on the @PatMcAfeeShow that Alabama WR Jameson Williams was the most NFL-ready wide receiver in this draft from what he saw. #Lions traded up to get him.

Rodgers adds: "It didn't seem like there was a Justin Jefferson in this draft."

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 29, 2022

Jefferson is a two-time Second Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler after entering the NFL in 2020.

Jefferson was selected in the 2020 NFL draft, a notorious selection process for the Packers.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Packers reportedly tried to trade up for Jefferson but were unsuccessful. They also reportedly looked at potentially landing San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk.

The draft is the ultimate what-if. In 2020, #Packers GM Brian Gutekunst targeted a WR. He tried to trade up for LSU WR Justin Jefferson, only to see MIN take him. He watched the #49ers trade up for ASU WR Brandon Aiyuk - another target. Then GB moved up to select… Jordan Love.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 3, 2021

Instead, Green Bay selected Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the No. 26 overall pick. The Packers traded up from No. 30 to make the choice.

Green Bay had the opportunity to select a couple of talented wideouts who went soon thereafter (Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr.) but opted against doing so.

The 38-year-old Rodgers has since won back-to-back NFL MVP awards and doesn't appear to be slowing down despite playing 14 years as an NFL starter.

Rodgers will now go into this season without his top target Davante Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Packers opted for a pair of Georgia defenders (Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt) in the first round, but they figure to look for a pass-catcher on Day 2 with three picks available (Nos. 53, 59, 92).

Reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers lost his favorite target this offseason when the Green Bay Packers traded wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.

While speaking to Pat McAfee on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers admitted that the trade caught him off-guard.

"It was a little surprising with Davante," Rodgers said. "Obviously when I made my decision I was still thinking he was going to come back."

Rodgers was referring to his decision to continue his career with the Packers after he briefly contemplated retirement. He signed a three-year contract extension worth $150 million.

Arguably the most potent quarterback-receiver tandem in the league, Rodgers and Adams wreaked havoc on NFL defenses for eight years. Adams earned his second consecutive first-team All-Pro selection and fifth straight Pro Bowl selection in 2021 after finishing with 123 catches for 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Adams and Rodgers have connected for 69 touchdowns together, the most in Green Bay franchise history.

Rodgers went on to say that he had communicated with Adams throughout his decision-making process and his expectation was that the two of them would continue their prolific connection.

"I was very honest with him about my plans and my future and where I saw my career going as far as how many years I wanted to play," Rodgers said. "I felt like he was going to be back, didn’t obviously turn out that way. But I have so much love for ‘Tae and appreciate the time we spent together and definitely wish him the best with Derek [Carr] in Vegas."

Rodgers will be throwing to some new faces in 2022 after the departures of Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The Packers signed veteran Sammy Watkins in free agency, but they didn't address the receiver position with either of their two picks in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft on Thursday.