Aaron Rodgers is the most coveted player available in NFL free agency right now. What originally started as a two-team battle between the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers changed with the sudden entrance of the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota originally wanted to re-sign Daniel Jones as its replacement for Sam Darnold, but he signed a lucrative one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts. With Jones off the board and Darnold joining the Seattle Seahawks, the Vikings turned their focus to other options on the free-agent market.
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- Aaron Rodgers stats (ESPN): 3,897 passing yards, 28-11 TD-INT, 63% completion rate, 6.7 ypa, 90.5 QB rating, 40 sacks taken
As for Rodgers, he first seemed to be headed to the Giants. It would’ve allowed him to stay in his multi-million dollar New Jersey mansion with an NFC team that was desperate for stability at quarterback. However, after acquiring DK Metcalf, the Steelers entered the mix and seemed to overtake the Giants in the competition to sign Rodgers.
Then, Minnesota threw its hat into the ring. What started as ‘serious discussions‘ inside the organization turned into reports that Rodgers wanted to play for Minnesota. The Vikings offer the superior supporting cast with a roster capable of competing for a Super Bowl, the perfect landing spot for Rodgers to end his career. However, the sentiment might not be fully shared by Minnesota.
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Appearing on the Just Your Opinion, Man podcast, Michael Silver of The Athletic said that Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is torn on bringing Rodgers in.
- Aaron Rodgers career stats: 102.6 QB rating, 62,952 passing yards, 503-116 TD-INT, 65.1% completion rate, 7.6 yards per attempt
O’Connell’s hesitation about signing Rodgers also seems to be reflected in recent reporting. Appearing on Sunday’s SportsCenter, ESPN NFL insider Jerem Fowler said that the Vikings are “probably not” signing the All-Pro quarterback.
“Minnesota Vikings are sort of on the periphery here. Sources there tell me that it’s possible they get involved with Rodgers, but the feeling this week has been probably not. They want to develop J.J. McCarthy.”
Jeremy Fowler on Aaron Rodgers and the Minnesota Vikings
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While Rodgers is the best quarterback available, the fit in Minnesota didn’t necessarily make sense. He’s developed a reputation for wanting to run his own offense, changing plays before the snap and overruling the head coach. Given O’Connell is widely viewed as one of the NFL’s brightest minds, it’s a poor fit.
To Fowler’s point, the Vikings’ organization also remains very high on J.J. McCarthy. A first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, he missed his rookie season due to a torn meniscus but he is expected to be ready for training camp. Given his familiarity with O’Connell’s system and his coachability, it’s likely that he’ll be the Vikings starting quarterback in 2025 with Rodgers playing elsewhere.
