In all of NFL history, only nine times has a quarterback thrown for over 5,000 yards. Once thought to be an impossible feat, seeing a 5,000-yard passer today is not that rare of an occurrence (mostly thanks in part to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees). In 2011, we had three quarterbacks throw for 5,000 yards after it had only been done twice in the previous 27 years. Still, the list of quarterbacks to break that threshold is very, very short.
Aaron Rodgers Has a Chance to Throw for 5,000 Yards in 2017
So far, the most yards Aaron Rodgers has thrown for in a season is 4,643, set back in his 2011 MVP season. Even with all of his achievements, Rodgers has yet to break the 5,000-yard mark. But this season could be different. Rodgers in 2017 will, barring a series of unfortunate and unlikely injuries, will have the best receiving corps he’s had since 2011. Names such as Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb remain from that 2011 offensive juggernaut. Others, such as Davante Adams and Trevor Davis, are relatively newer faces that could be poised for breakout seasons this year. Adams, who had 997 receiving yards on 75 receptions and 12 touchdowns in 2016 after struggling with drops and inconsistency in 2015, has a very real chance at developing into one of the NFL’s top receivers this season.
Addition of Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks Will Make Packers Even More Terrifying Through the Air
Along with their incredibly talented receiving corps, the Green Bay Packers also added two talented tight ends in Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks. Look for Green Bay to be using the two tight end set often this season, which was also used heavily by the New England Patriots in 2011 with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. It’s no surprise that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady also threw for 5,000 yards that season.
The array of weapons Rodgers will have this season will be almost unfair to opposing defenses. Having to account for one of the NFL’s best receivers along with one of its best slot receivers in Nelson and Cobb as well as an emerging star in Adams and two dynamic tight ends in Bennett and Kendricks makes this Packers offense horrifyingly good. The Packers could probably get away with not running the ball once this season and still make the playoffs with ease. Even as Packers head coach Mike McCarthy stresses the importance of the run game, Rodgers should easily set a career high in pass attempts.
Rodgers Will Carry His Hot Streak Into This Season
After Rodgers made his famous “run the table” statement, he averaged about 296 yards a game in the nine-game win streak that followed. If he were to put up similar numbers over a 16=game season, he’d end up with about 4,748 passing yards, which comes dangerously close to 5,000 and would break his personal record of 4,643. Add in his new weapons along with a breakout performance from Adams and numbers that are similar to 2016 from Nelson and Cobb, and it’s entirely plausible that Rodgers averages over 300 yards a game this season, which would put him right at the 5,000 yard mark.
While 5,000 yards for Rodgers would be a very impressive feat, the important goal for Green Bay this season will be reaching the Super Bowl. Whether that requires Rodgers to throw for 5,000 yards or not is a mystery. But either way, the biggest goal for Rodgers and the Packers isn’t individual achievement but rather coming out on top for the first time since the 2010-2011 season.
