Is Aaron Rodgers going to the San Francisco 49ers? Exploring the trade rumors surrounding the Packers QB

When ESPN's Adam Schefter said that the Green Bay Packers would be open to trading Aaron Rodgers, everyone had an opinion as to where he might go.

The New York Jets have been mentioned as a potential destination, but they are not alone. An elbow injury Brock Purdy sustained could make the San Francisco 49ers one of the franchises interested in Rodgers.

More than just that, the move makes sense on other levels.

Rodgers grew up in California supporting the Niners, even though they notably snubbed him and chose Alex Smith in the 2005 draft.

With the sun setting rather than rising on Rodgers' career, the quarterback would like to add another Super Bowl to his resume. The 49ers are a Super Bowl-caliber side, and Rodgers has stated that he would like to play for one.

The 49ers could also need a quarterback. They are losing Jimmy Garoppolo to free agency, which frees up some cap. Trey Lance is still recovering from ankle surgery and is anticipated to make a comeback before the start of next season. As he was struggling in the very limited time he played for the 49ers, they may decide to move on from him.

Purdy has been brilliant since taking over the starting role, but does he give San Francisco a better chance of winning the Super Bowl than Aaron Rodgers? He could also sit for a season or two until Rodgers does decide to call it a day. Learning from a future Hall of Famer could elevate Purdy's trajectory.

The fact that Lance and Purdy are still under rookie contracts would allow the team to make significant room for Aaron Rodgers.

The move could make sense and it could happen, but at the moment there is nothing but conjecture to link Rodgers to the 49ers. We will see if that changes in the coming weeks and months.

Aaron Rodgers joining the 49ers could make them instant Super Bowl favorites

The Niners possess all the necessary components for a Super Bowl squad, except for a superstar quarterback. Any QB would want to be a member of Kyle Shanahan's unique offensive system.

In three of the previous four years (twice with Garoppolo and once with an injured Purdy), Shanahan has guided the 49ers to the NFC championship game. And that is without a superstar in the most crucial position. What could Shanahan achieve with Aaron Rodgers?

Compared to several other teams, the 49ers are genuinely just one quarterback away from mounting a solid Super Bowl challenge. They defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the first playoff round and the Dallas Cowboys in the next round before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game.

They did all that with Brock Purdy as the starting QB. Think of the possibilities if they have a four-time MVP. That's not to say Purdy isn't a good quarterback, as he has clearly shown his potential this season. He could well be the future of the franchise and is definitely one for the future. But is that future now?

The 49ers want a Super Bowl win and have fallen just short in recent years. They might go all in for the 2023 season and go for Aaron Rodgers.