'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 – Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson may have eventually been traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2022. People, however, often forget the saga surrounding his off-field exploits began back in 2021.
During the 2020 NFL season, Watson was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Following this season, he demanded to leave the Houston Texans and move to a team that was capable of winning.
The Texans were perceived to be being run poorly. This perception was reinforced by the team’s ludicrous decision to trade away All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins for virtually nothing.
Watson lost patience with the Texans and wanted out, despite signing a lucrative contract with them.
The Texans refused to let him leave. This set the stage for an all-time player/team standoff until allegations of sexual misconduct against Watson by several women emerged.
He sat out the 2021 NFL season as a member of the Texans, who refused to trade him. This situation was beneficial to absolutely nobody.
#4 – Russell Wilson
When a player reaches a certain level, they can make a trade request in a way that doesn’t need to become public knowledge or destabilize their team.
Russell Wilson is one such player, although he maintains he never officially requested a trade from the Seattle Seahawks in 2021.
The reality is that Wilson had been looking to move away from the Hawks since then, but the franchise simply refused to deal him in 2021.
His partnership with DK Metcalf was seen as promising and was able to guide the team into a playoff spot. It was only when this proved not to be the case that the Seahawks softened on Wilson’s demands. His official trade request in 2022 was accepted, and he was dealt to the Denver Broncos.
#5 – Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers’ two-year long battle with the Green Bay Packers front office is one which will live long in the memory… even if it ended exactly where it started with the player staying in place in Wisconsin.
Rodgers was left consistently frustrated with the Packers’ refusal to draft him offensive weapons. Then, the franchise made the move to draft his replacement at QB in Jordan Love without consulting him. This left Rodgers heading into the 2021 offseason demanding to leave.
The defending MVP refused to return to training camp. He even contemplated retirement. He was so central to the Packers’ offense that the team refused to trade him… as they did a year later when, once more, Rodgers demanded a trade and again threatened retirement.
Paying him $150.8 million over three years soon calmed Rodgers down though, and he will continue with the team. It’s unclear if he is any happier in Wisconsin now. This could be an issue that arises again at the end of the 2022 NFL season. For now, the Packers have held strong and refused to trade their quarterback.
