The Facts: At some point, Rodgers will become the newest highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. By most accounts, that formality should happen before the 2018 season kicks off. Beyond leapfrogging Matt Ryan in average per year and guaranteed money, there are more nuanced aspects of Rodgers' anticipated contract that are worth tracking. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that player control is one aspect of the new contract that is extremely important to Rodgers, according to sources briefed on the negotiations.

Diehards Line:That's understandable. In 2013, Rodgers signed a five-year extension that put him under team control through the 2019 season. Since then, the All-World quarterback has seen some far lesser signal-callers leapfrog him in pay. Rodgers' $22 million per season average ranks 10th among QBs, behind Ryan, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Alex Smith and Joe Flacco. If Rodgers signs another five-year extension, that would put him under team control through 2024 when he's 41 years old. Such a long deal would surely lead to another game of leapfrog in which Rodgers sees worse quarterbacks get paid more. One problem in Rodgers earning such an opt-out: Why would the Packers give up leverage? Currently, Rodgers has two years remaining on his deal. The Packers then hold the ability to franchise tag the quarterback the next two seasons. Green Bay could do nothing and have Rodgers under center for the next four seasons. And as Garafolo further noted, if Rodgers had his way, his new deal would be unlike any contract we've seen. However it plays out, this will definitely be interesting.