The Minnesota Vikings are among the leaders in cap space heading into NFL free agency and they’ll have even more flexibility with Sam Darnold likely headed elsewhere. With so much cash to spend, NFL rumors are pointing toward a potential big splurge by the Vikings this offseason.
Minnesota has plenty of needs it needs to address. There’s a void at running back with Aaron Jones hitting free agency and starting cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr. and Stephon Gilmore are poised to hit the open market. With more than $60 million in cap space, the club has clear areas to spend it.
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There’s also a lot of intrigue at quarterback. J.J. McCarthy could be the Vikings starting quarterback in 2025, but he’s still recovering from a second surgery on his knee. The time off meant that he couldn’t add muscle, resulting in a thin frame that the coaching staff wants to see him address this offseason. There’s also still uncertainty about how well he’ll perform after a year spent on the sideline unable to practice. There’s an emerging solution in free agency.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Vikings have emerged as a “dark horse” candidate to sign Aaron Rodgers once he is released by the New York Jets.
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Previous NFL rumors suggested Rodgers would be landing with the New York Giants, but other clubs are still in the mix. The Tennessee Titans have also been linked to the future Hall of Fame quarterback, with both New York and Tennessee currently able to provide a clear path to the starting job in 2025.
Of course, Rodgers signing with the Vikings would be a continuation of him following in the footsteps of Brett Favre. Like Favre, he requested a trade away from the Green Bay Packers and landed with the New York Jets. Now, with Rodgers getting cut be New York, he could return to the NFC North with the Vikings.
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Minnesota would have an elite supporting cast of offensive weapons along with a very good offensive line in place, putting Rodgers in the best possible position for success. He could conceivably beat McCarthy in a competition to be the Vikings starting quarterback and the team would only be committed to him for one year. If the Vikings are a legitimate suitor and Rodgers is willing to compete, it’s the best job he’ll find this offseason.