A notable NFL insider poured a gallon of cold water on the heated rumors of the Minnesota Vikings signing former Green Bay Packers legend Aaron Rodgers.
The Minnesota Vikings are just a few months removed from their best win total (14) since they won 15 games and went to the Conference Championship in 1998. However, there is serious doubt they will be able to mirror that level of play next season because of the departure of one specific player: Sam Darnold.
Under the guidance of head coach Kevin O’Connell, the former first-round pick had a breakthrough season. Earning Pro Bowl honors for the first time. However, the 27-year-old took that success into NFL free agency this month and landed a $100 million deal from the Seattle Seahawks. Making things worse, backup Daniel Jones also left in free agency after landing a multi-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts.
It leaves JJ McCarthy as the likely starter and coming off a torn meniscus last year. Minnesota is understandably uncomfortable with that and reportedly wants to sign a veteran QB. And have shockingly been linked to signing one-time hated rival Aaron Rodgers. However, CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones seemed to emphatically shut down that idea on Friday.
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Jonathan Jones: ‘If Minnesota Vikings wanted Aaron Rodgers he would already be signed’
“Folks I’ve talked to believe if the Vikings wanted Rodgers, he would already be a Minnesota Viking. They clearly have, of the three teams [interested in Rodgers], the best roster. He would have an opportunity to start. It would probably be a short-term proposition with JJ McCarthy the quarterback of the future. But if they wanted to sign Aaron Rodgers, a signing would have already taken place.”
The idea of Rodgers doing the same thing fellow Packers icon Brett Favre did two decades ago by going from the Pack to the Jets and then rivals the Vikings always seemed unlikely. This report from Jones adds to that while cooling off the speculation of a move to the purple and gold.
Nevertheless, crazy things happen in free agency all the time, and as Jones stated, the Vikings are a better option than signing with other suitors, the Giants and Steelers.