Jake Plummer says Aaron Rodgers could ‘raise the bar’ for Broncos like Peyton Manning did

Former Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer expects Drew Lock to take a step forward in his career this fall, but that hasn’t stopped Plummer from endorsing the possibility of Aaron Rodgers landing in Denver.

Rodgers is unhappy with the Green Bay Packers and he wants to be traded. If the Packers eventually give in and grant Rodgers’ trade request, the Broncos are expected to be among the quarterback’s suitors.

While speaking with Broncos Wire during an interview about his upcoming film, Kick, Plummer indicated it would be difficult to pull off a trade for a QB this late in the offseason, but he believes Rodgers could make it work.

“He’s brilliant,” Plummer said. “He has a photographic memory, I’m sure he could look through the playbook and have it down in a couple days. So if he could fall into that organization, I just think his talent and his abilities take a pretty talented guy who’s just kind of been mediocre because he’s never had that motivation or taste to now go, ‘Holy [expletive], we could really win this.’

“And he’ll pick up his game and spend the extra time he needs to spend to get better to raise the bar of everybody around him. Kind of like Peyton [Manning] did when he came here. If he became a Bronco, you know, good for that organization, hopefully good for him, but I just hope he gets a chance to play where he wants to play and it’s set up for his success.”

When Manning signed with Denver in 2012, Demaryius Thomas (551 receiving yards in 2011) and Eric Decker (612 receiving yards) were good receivers, but they weren’t playing at a Pro Bowl level. After Manning joined the offense, the team’s receivers took their play to new heights.

Plummer believes Rodgers could have a similar impact in 2021.

“Dude, Aaron Rodgers’ receivers, any one of them that’s gone for 800 yards or 1,000 yards, they’re probably pretty good receivers, but I’m pretty sure he’s a large reason why,” Plummer said with a laugh. “The reason why on some of it, but yeah, he’s a great player and would raise everyone’s belief. The fans, everyone in the whole entire Broncos Country would go, ‘Oh, we’ve got a chance now for sure!’

“Now, I wish they’d say that with Lock, just to get that kid the confidence that any young kid needs, but I still think they’ve got a pretty [expletive] good team coming into this year. I think he [Lock] can be pretty good to lead ‘em, but who knows with the Aaron Rodgers situation how that’s going to play out.”

Rodgers’ future with Green Bay is uncertain, and his rift with the team might still be months away from reaching a resolution. Plummer, meanwhile, is set to portray a fictional quarterback leading the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to an improbable CFL championship run in his upcoming film.

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