The stories emerging out of the 2021 draft haven’t stopped even months later. Most of the details regarding the Chicago Bears and their move for Justin Fields are well-known. GM Ryan Pace had started placing calls during the 1st round. Most of them centered around picks 8-12. For a series of tense moments they had to wait for the right opportunity, all the while praying Fields didn’t get scooped by somebody else. Finally, the New York Giants accepted their offer at #11. They got a future 1st round pick. Chicago got their quarterback.

That story by itself is amazing. Yet what makes it so much crazier is the side stories that accompany it. One of the first to emerge was the Minnesota Vikings. They apparently had a high grade on Fields. Enough to where sources believe they not only would’ve drafted him at #14 overall but were exploring opportunities to trade up. Unfortunately, they weren’t willing to pay the asking prices. One moment saw Carolina Panthers GM Scott Fitterer hang up on them with decisive, “No.”

Yet it seems the real drama took place at the 9th pick.

The Denver Broncos held that spot and were one of the most difficult teams to predict. Though they had former 2nd round pick Drew Lock and had just traded for Teddy Bridgewater, some felt there was still a chance they might pick a quarterback. Especially with a new GM in charge in George Paton. As it turns out, they were seriously considering it according to Mike Silver of NFL.com. Fields being their prominent target.

“Owners of the ninth overall pick, the Broncos — mired in uncertainty at the quarterback position since first-ballot Hall of Famer Peyton Manning’s retirement following the team’s Super Bowl 50 triumph five years ago — had pondered the possibility of selecting Ohio State’s Justin Fields, and that wasn’t even the trending topic. The day had turned surreal a few hours earlier when reports surfaced that reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers was fed up with the Green Bay Packers, and that Denver might be a viable trade destination.”

Discussions about taking a QB went right down to the wire. Paton and head coach Vic Fangio got together just two nights before the draft to talk about it. While they did like Fields, both seemed uneasy about the uncertainty surrounding the Ohio State standout.

With the draft approaching, Paton and Fangio had high opinions of Fields, Alabama’s Mac Jones and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, all of whom they felt might be available at No. 9. (Lance, however, was considered less ready to play as a rookie, which wasn’t ideal for a head coach who is clearly in win-now mode.) Paton had explored trade-up scenarios with the Lions (who picked seventh overall) and Panthers (who picked eighth), but as he and Fangio discussed the situation two nights before the draft, they were bothered by the uncertainty confronting them.

A better way to put it is that neither were comfortable taking Fields at #9. Maybe if they moved down a little bit but not there. Where all of this gets even better is what happened next.

Packers refusal to discuss Rodgers made Justin Fields decision clear

The Broncos explored moving down a lot. One for the idea of acquiring a litany of future picks but also for another reason. Stockpiling the necessary currency that would be required to go after Aaron Rodgers. Denver was such an obvious landing spot and they’d be in a great position to land him if Green Bay were open to offers. However, the Packers weren’t going to entertain discussions.

That realization set the next events in motion. Since Rodgers wasn’t available and no team was offering a huge package to move up, Paton decided to stay put at #9. Since it was already established the organization wasn’t comfortable taking Fields that early, their ultimate pick became clear.

“In the lead-up to Thursday night’s first round, Paton had another reason to find a trade-down arousing: If the Packers were, in fact, willing to discuss a potential trade for Rodgers — even if it were to be negotiated after the draft — his plan would have been to try to trade down with a team like the Saints and accumulate future assets (ideally, first- and second-round picks in 2022) that he could use as part of a package to send to Green Bay.

Once Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, through a third party, made it clear before the draft began that he wouldn’t even talk about dealing Rodgers, Paton tabled that idea and focused on the first round. Though three teams called when Denver was on the clock, he rejected their trade-down offers and decided to select Surtain, believing the second-generation shutdown corner was too good to pass up.”

This opened the window for Chicago.

With Green Bay not willing to play ball, it hardened the Broncos’ stance about moving down. They played it safe with Surtain. That enabled Fields to slip two more slots down the board to #11 where the Bears were finally able to make their move. It is crazy to think Rodgers, arguably the greatest villain in team history played a key role in helping the franchise to possibly end their long-running futility at quarterback.

To say nothing of the fact that Paton was assistant GM of the Minnesota Vikings prior to joining the Broncos. Another reminder of how crazy the NFL can be. If Green Bay had agreed to trade Rodgers, it’s possible New Orleans jumps up to #9 and swipes Justin Fields. Instead, the Bears have their quarterback and the Packers could end up with nothing in the end. That would be rather fitting.