On day one of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers made the headlines in the worst way.

Well, that’s not a fair statement. It wasn’t really on day one of the 2021 NFL Draft in the way of a draft selection or a draft-day move. And in fact, it wasn’t really the Packers who made the headlines; it was their franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The headline I’m talking about was the leaked report that Rodgers’ issues with the Packers—which didn’t exactly come out of nowhere—were at an irreparable impasse.

I have a feeling the news didn’t just happen to leak on day one of the draft by chance. I think Rodgers’ camp purposefully leaked his disgruntled feelings—to the point of saying he might never play for the Packers again—in order to try to manipulate the Packers into trading him on draft night in order to get something for him in the form of draft picks for this current cycle. But the Packers didn't panic and seemed to call Rogers' bluff, at least for now.

But since draft weekend, Rodgers hasn’t exactly budged with his stance on perhaps never playing for Green Bay again. In fact, there have been newer reports since that have detailed why Rodgers has been unhappy and just how long he has been unhappy. It seems to run deeper than just one decision, one issue, and even one person. There have been some personnel moves by general manager Brian Gutekunst that Rodgers has taken umbrage with, and his relationship with head coach Matt LaFleur, where perhaps better, doesn’t appear to be at a place where it can repair the fracture—or at least mend it.

So what if Rodgers is serious? What if he really has no intention of playing for the Packers again, not just via a trade demand, but a retirement? I mean, let’s be honest, if Rodgers retired today, he’d be a Hall of Famer and go down as one of the best passers of all time. I’m sure he’d like to win another Super Bowl, but does he believe he needs to for his own satisfaction and the justification of his talent? There’s reason to think not.

Here’s what Jaime Eisner thought of the Packers 2021 schedule with Rodgers still on the team.

Week 1: @ Saints (W)

Week 2: vs. Lions (W)

Week 3: @ 49ers (W)

Week 4: vs. Steelers (W)

Week 5: @ Bengals (W)

Week 6: @ Bears (L)

Week 7: vs. Washington (W)

Week 8: @ Cardinals (W)

Week 9: @ Chiefs (L)

Week 10: vs. Seahawks (L)

Week 11: @ Vikings (W)

Week 12: vs. Rams (W)

Week 13: BYE

Week 14: vs. Bears (W)

Week 15: @ Ravens (L)

Week 16: vs. Browns (L)

Week 17: vs. Vikings (W)

Week 18: @ Lions (W)

Record Prediction: 12-5

What happens if you take the 2020 MVP off the team he just won MVP with? Here’s what I think the Packers’ record could be without Rodgers.

Week 1: @ Saints (L)

Week 2: vs. Lions (W)

Week 3: @ 49ers (L)

Week 4: vs. Steelers (W)

Week 5: @ Bengals (W)

Week 6: @ Bears (L)

Week 7: vs. Washington (L)

Week 8: @ Cardinals (W)

Week 9: @ Chiefs (L)

Week 10: vs. Seahawks (L)

Week 11: @ Vikings (L)

Week 12: vs. Rams (L)

Week 13: BYE

Week 14: vs. Bears (W)

Week 15: @ Ravens (L)

Week 16: vs. Browns (L)

Week 17: vs. Vikings (W)

Week 18: @ Lions (W)

Record Prediction: 7-10

Rodgers was the most valuable player in the truest form of the award. The Packers led the NFL in points per drive with 3.22. No other team in the league had an average of more than three. Rodgers led all quarterbacks in 2020 with an EPA average of 0.361. If you take Rodgers off that Packers offense, there is a massive dropoff, especially for a quarterback in Jordan Love who has not started before.

I’m not shattering any mental glass here, but the Packers would be a much worse team without Rodgers. I felt like they far overachieved at 13-3 last year, and Rodgers was obviously the biggest catalyst for that. If they move on from him, it doesn’t matter what their return will be, their next season without him will be a big step backward.