It's rare to see a bona fide franchise quarterback change teams while he is healthy and still producing at a high level. Extenuating circumstances do exist (see: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees), but for the most part, these guys stay put. San Diego Chargers fans should take some solace in that fact as the future of Philip Rivers is up in the air at the moment.
Rivers is entering the final year of his contract and appears perfectly happy to hit free agency next offseason. Normally, QBs in his situation seek a long-term extension and the security it provides. However, Rivers has rebuffed any and all attempts at working out a new deal to this point; making some in the Chargers front office uneasy. Is it possible that Rivers wants out of San Diego and if so, would the Chargers trade him?
"The San Diego Chargers have definitely wanted to extend Philip Rivers and make sure that retires as a member of the San Diego Chargers and they approached Rivers' agent, Jimmy Sexton, recently to try and do an extension," Ian Rapoport of NFL network said. "Rivers said he does not feel comfortable doing it right now. He wanted to play out his contract so that is exactly what he is going to do. Now, the Chargers do hold the trump card in this, they can franchise him at the end of the season which is a possibility. But the fact that they have not done a long-term extension and won't be doing a long-term extension does raise some possibilities, including ...a potential trade maybe with the Tennessee Titans. I've talked to several sources about this with the Chargers, they have said 'We do not want to trade Philip Rivers, we want him to retire a member of the Chargers.' What I have not heard is, 'We will not be trading him.' Now, that being said, the Chargers know the importance of a good quarterback, a great quarterback, you cannot win without him, so what would it take to trade Philip Rivers? A lot. Multiple first-round picks."
A Rivers trade, at this juncture, is highly unlikely. However, it still remains a possibility. Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt has always been partial to big-armed pocket quarterbacks, and Rivers is one of the best out there. If the Chargers become convinced that Rivers will leave in free agency next offseason, they may opt for a preemptive strike.
