aaron rodgers
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after the Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 27-10 on Sept. 18, 2022, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Packers moves to restructure Alexander, Smith are directly connected to Aaron Rodgers

Will Rodgers be the Packers QB in 2023?

Are the Green Bay Packers working some salary cap magic to lure Aaron Rodgers back for another playoff run?

Or, are this weekend’s contract re-works simply a move the club needs to make to unload their Hall of Fame-worthy signal caller?

While the Packers weren’t acknowledging either step, the timing of the deals — made as Rodgers is preparing to announce a decision on his future — are undoubtably linked.

NFL teams are still several weeks away from having to get under the 2023 NFL salary cap.

But Rodgers could conveivably be gone by then — either by retiring (not likely) or trade (more likely).

The team would see a $15 million savings off their cap.

Jaire Alexander’s restructure saves the club $9.4 million in space while Edge Rusher Preston Smith enables the Pack to shave off another $6.6 million, while retaining him through 2026.

Rodgers has a $31 million cap hit in 2023 but is due nearly $60 million in guaranteed money.

The team, meanwhile, has to decide if Jordan Love deserves a fifth year option.