MARCH 21: The idea of a Rodgers signing received support from “many” within the Vikings’ organization, Russini’s colleague Alec Lewis confirms (subscription required). Uncertainty over McCarthy’s upside for 2025 looms as a reason for pursuing a short-term veteran option, and the Minnesota breakdown of Rodgers’ performance from last year yielded a strong evaluation of his play in the pocket. The door is of course not entirely closed to a Vikings-Rodgers partnership at this point, and it is clear one would be welcomed from a strong contingent in the building.
MARCH 19: Even at 41, Aaron Rodgers had stalled the quarterback market. The Vikings hovered at the forefront of this stoppage, as the connection between Rodgers and Minnesota proved enough to halt delay the future Hall of Famer’s decision and impact other dominoes from falling.
While the Vikings do not appear to be definitively out on giving Rodgers the chance to complete the Brett Favre career arc, it does sound like they are prepared to stand down. The team is staying out of the Rodgers chase for the time being, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Although the Vikes are still planning to add a veteran passer, it is unlikely to be Rodgers.
[RELATED: Steelers Believe They Remain In Running For Rodgers]
As could be expected, the Vikings have also informed teams J.J. McCarthy is not available via trade. Multiple McCarthy trade calls have commenced this offseason, Pelissero adds. It was rumored late last season, as questionable free agent and draft crops loomed for QB-needy teams, McCarthy would bring trade interest. Seeing as the Vikings centered their 2024 offseason around the No. 10 overall pick and that the team had let Sam Darnold walk in free agency, entertaining trade offers appeared a non-starter.
The Steelers and Giants should be positioned to, even considering Rodgers’ glacial pace this offseason, hear an answer soon. Both teams have made offers, but the Vikings had muddied the market due to presenting intrigue after a 14-3 season with Darnold at the controls. Minnesota’s current stance may not be final, but it will put Rodgers, Pittsburgh and New York to decisions. The Vikings are merely not ready to commit to Rodgers right now, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who indicates the NFC North club “strongly considered” the aging QB. Though, unless Rodgers wants to wait out McCarthy’s offseason work, he will need to make a decision.
Rodgers taking an extended period before choosing would not exactly be out of character, especially at this stage of his career, and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adds no indication has emerged this Vikings development will accelerate the Rodgers market. But the Giants and Steelers will soon need answers in order to have some clarity moving forward. The Vikings’ early call here should move the Russell Wilson market along and perhaps give Kirk Cousins a clearer picture about his future. The top option caught in the crosshairs here, Wilson has visited the Browns and Giants and is believed to be ready to join a team soon.
A report from The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson emerged previously indicating some Steelers optimism on Rodgers, who had become a target for the team days before the legal tampering period began. While the Giants were connected to Rodgers first, the Steelers — as their efforts to keep Justin Fields from testing the market failed — soon became a suitor. Nearly nine days into free agency, Anderson adds the Steelers feel like they are “getting closer” on a Rodgers resolution.
The Vikings appear to be aiming lower for a McCarthy bridge, which makes sense given the team’s investment in the former national championship-winning arm. Seeking a player who can start “if needed,” per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, the team has not been tied to Wilson, and while a Cousins reunion would be interesting (seeing as the QB’s $28.5MM dead money figure is now off the books), the Falcons passer has a no-trade clause and passed on being a bridge option for his longtime employer last season.
Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston, Drew Lock, Carson Wentz and Minnesota native Trey Lance remain available. The Vikings nearly cut off this extended Rodgers link by re-signing Daniel Jones, but he chose the Colts due to a better chance to be an extended starter.
A Rodgers signing would have all but buried the opportunity for McCarthy to start in Week 1; the Vikings are clearly hopeful the Michigan product will be able to take over immediately. A lower-profile stopgap would bring insurance rather than a true bridge. The Vikings’ current stance will brighten the spotlight on McCarthy’s form to start the team’s offseason program, which does not begin for multiple weeks. In the meantime, the Giants and Steelers will want to know who their Week 1 starter will be.
The Giants are believed to have submitted the best Rodgers offer, though the Steelers have conveyed their interest and present the best chance for the 20-year veteran to hold onto a starting job throughout the season. The returning Mason Rudolph would profile as a clear Rodgers backup, and the Steelers holding the No. 21 overall pick (compared to the Giants’ No. 3 spot), would limit them in the draft.
The wait continues, and it will be interesting to see if Rodgers actually makes a call or forces his lead suitors to blink early by further delaying his decision. Favre memorably did not give the Vikings QB clarity until mid-August 2009, signing with Minnesota late in training camp. The Packers’ decision to go with Rodgers a year earlier did not become final until early August 2008, and that move uprooted previous Jets starter Chad Pennington, thus updating three teams’ (including the Dolphins) QB plans during camp. It would be stunning if the Giants and Steelers were comfortable with any comparable delay. Their futures with Rodgers should be known fairly soon.
I have the Giants taking Hunter at 3
Then trading up to get Sanders once he slips like crazy too.
Likewise I still hate the idea of Ward numero uno.
Why not fix your entire defense with Carter at 1, then draft Dart/Milroe/Ewers round 2 ?
Ward better than those guys, but he’s nothing special enough to take at 1.
Drafting one player does not fix your entire defense.
It does when it’s a pass rusher who can disrupt on every play
That’s why Edge rushers are getting paid like QBs now
Maybe you’re taking my statement too literally, but an elite edge can hide a ton of other issues on a defense
Trey Hendrickson can disrupt on every play. He certainly didn’t fix the Bengals defense.
You’re saying Trey Hendrickson isn’t a priority item?
18 sacks and it’s not surprising that Bengals were one of the league leaders in INT in part because of Hendricksons work off the edge
That defense is in big trouble without him
Yawn
Rodgers might be one of the biggest tools in pro sports, but he’s still better than half the QBs in the league
Has he been though? He hasn’t been good the last 2 years he’s played (especially at the cap dollars he has been at). A lot of metrics have him in bottom 10 territory. His counting stats look good though I guess.
There was this little thing called a torn achilles tendon for which he missed the 2023 season and was coming back from in the 2024 season, ya dope.
He literally only played one play in 2023. One.
Counting stats is an odd way to say non made up stats.
Totally disagree at this stage of his career. The guys is a head case and not a good team mate with with all other skill sets declining rapidly. He is not Tom Brady that can play effectively till he’s 45. Once was great but now he’s Tannehill at best.
What a weird comment.
nobody loves themselves more than this guy
Vikings fans are probably extremely happy right now
It would be funny if the Steelers decided to simply move on from Rodgers while the Vikings do nothing other than saying McCarthy is out guy and the giants get Wilson. Rodgers deserves this kind of bad karma. This is what he deserves for leaving the giants and Steelers hanging
I truly don’t know why all Rodgers’ potential landing spots don’t give a deadline for a decision. AR is (in theory) a grown man and should be able to make up his mind. “Offer ends tomorrow” from the involved teams should resolve everything.
Because owners are much older, so to them Rodgers was a multiple time league MVP who has won a Super Bowl not long ago and the alternatives are still pretty suspect. He was derailed by an injury 1.5 years ago that usually takes 2 years to return to previous competitive level. And if they issue an ultimatum and he ends up somewhere else and is actually good while you flail with the mystery box QB when you could have had him, then people will say and write mean things about you.
You are technically correct that he wain a Super Bowl. Unfortunately 14 years ago does not qualify as “not long ago”
Do you think Jerry Jones considers his super bowl championships to have occurred in the distant past?
I talked to a guy who is in his 50s a few weeks ago and he said that something happened to him “in the 80s so not that long ago.” A lot of older people say stuff like this all the time. To older people “the other day” is the 2010s, maybe even “yesterday.”
So, yes, it is very likely that, to almost any owner of an NFL team, 14 years ago does qualify as “not long ago.”
Everybody should stand down on Rodgers.
Let Rodgers go to the Giants. The Steelers need to pull their offer and move on. Rodgers would probably like to stay in New York anyway as a bigger media market for all the attention he wants.
Rodgers is proving everyday since the Steelers made him an offer that he doesn’t respect the Steelers. If old man Rooney were smart he’d pull the offer off the table
Giants should offer their #3 pick for McCarthy. He’s had a full year under O’Connell’s tutelage even though he never took the field with the injury. Would the Vikings change their mind about not trading him I’m wondering?
I highly doubt the Vikings were ever entertaining a potential McCarthy trade. Other teams were interested pit the Vikings never said they were interested in trading him
Would have taken a lot more than #3.
“Would have taken a lot more than #3.”
I’ll have to disagree here. He was drafted at #10 last year and since then he’s suffered a major injury and has yet to take a regular season snap. Why would his value go up?
They’ve had him in the building for a year and seen how he acts and leads. Presumably O’Connell has coached him up in the meantime.
Plus they would be empty at QB after previously moving on from eventual Super Bowl LX Champion Sam Darnold.
None of that means anything if he’s not actually good. He was 10th overall last year, hasn’t played at all, and had a major injury. It just doesn’t make any sense that his stock would magically rise to being worth even more.
Drafts are different. He was the 5th of 6 rd 1 qbs taken, all of which look to be pretty darn good. He would be the number 1 pick this year. In 2020, kenny picket was the first qb taken. It matters what the qb competition is in your draft to determine your draft spot. Also as seamonster said, he is going to hold more value to the Vikes after having him in the plans for a year. They aren’t just going to punt at qb because the giants wave a #3 pick in their face in a draft that has much weaker qb options. Giants should have taken him last year at 6.
No…thank God the Giants didn’t take him last year……Nabers is a player…this kid has yet to flash anything other than pre-season football…no telling how he’ll pan out in NFL game situations….he was surrounded by immense talent at Michigan making his stats a lot easier to achieve…..time will tell but the Giants made the right choice…..and finally, the Giants giving up their #3 this year would be an immense over pay for a kid who already has had a major injury……could be Daniel Jones 2.0
Nabers will yet to show his potential until a real QB shows up. A star wr does you no good without a real qb. As good as Nabers is I would have to think most giants fans would rather have McCarthy right now than nabers.
“Nabers will yet to show his potential”
It’s semantics, but disagree. He had 109 catches for 1,204 yards and 7 TDs despite garbage QB play. Has he reached his potential? No. But he’s definitely shown it.
“They aren’t just going to punt at qb because the giants wave a #3 pick in their face in a draft that has much weaker qb options.”
While true, there’s a no chance the Giants “wave a #3 pick in their face” for a QB drafted #10 last year who had a major injury and has yet to take a snap in the league. y’all are delusional if you think the Giants would even make that offer. Even as dysfunctional as the Giants are, they’re not that stupid.
You have no qb and none of the qbs in the draft are any good and none of the free agents want to play for you. Who is delusional?
You keep saying McCarthy had a major knee injury. You realize it was a meniscus tear. Some say he could have come back last year but they just shut him down. A meniscus is not a big deal.
So I guess the Vikes don’t want your #3 and you don’t want a good qb. We are on the same page.
“acts and leads” what to the commissary line….you really don’t know anything about how a QB will react on the field until you put him on the field and let him play….and as far as coaching him up….doubt that too…Mac spent all of any time with QB’s with Darnold….spending time with JJ would be the QB coach’s job….
Not sayin but just sayin, this report leaves the door cracked open for Rodgers to sign with the Vikes later. This stupid saga isn’t over until Rodgers signs elsewhere. So in my mind nothing has changed really.
People forget that Favre signed with Minnesota on August 18th. I’m not in any way predicting a Rodgers signing (I actually think that it’s pretty stupid of him to wait, especially with a team as good as Minnesota), but it has happened-coincidentally with the same team, but, hey, it’s still an example.
Off-season’s coming up. I know that a lot of headlines are self-generated without player input, but these vets should consider signing soon (at the latest, after the draft). Familiarity can be as valuable as skill, as Rodgers should know.
I also cannot understand why Rodgers is hesitating. The only team on which Rodgers can win a Super Bowl next year is the Vikings. And the opportunity is real. Are the Vikings way low-balling Rodgers?
If not, he should hurry up and sign. It would be great to watch a final season or two of Rodgers’ HOF magic on a team which matters.
We are once again seeing Rodgers being Rodgers. Playing his usual sheeet show and being the center of attention. Rodgers needs to find a cave, go into his darkness retreat and stay there.
McCarthy is overrated to begin with and isn’t the answer for at least a couple years at best. Rodgers would be a good choice in purple for a year or two despite some of the baggage. Going to the NYG would be a mistake for both sides.
As a Packer fan, I hope Rodgers doesn’t end up in a Viking uniform. Because Minnesota would be a much better team with Rodgers in the short term.
I have to agree, I don’t understand why people think McCarthy is the solution for any team at QB. Michigan didn’t even allow him to throw the ball for the most part. But GM’s think he can flourish in the NFL?
TMQ
How about you actually watch him play a regular season game before making any predictions? You could be right but you could easily be wrong too. Way to early to make any career predictions already.
TMQ-I think your assessment of Michigan football and McCarthy is off. Just because they didn’t need to throw the football much does not mean they didn’t allow him to. When he did throw it, he was good. If you watched him in training camp and preseason last year, the dude stands out. All the beats say so. Time will tell but I think you are wrong.
For McConnels sake, you better be right because he certainly has put himself out on a limb with this kid having no backup plan……
Sharks –
Sadly You lost all credibility when you said you are a Packers fan.
Overrated? He’s never taken a snap. How can he be rated at all?
Unfounded expectations?
Ahh the favorite word in draft terminology.. Potential.
The Vikings were never going to sign Voldemort, this is a massive nothing burger, which is why the only person reporting on it has been Rousini, who obviously owed He Who Shall Not Be Named’s agent a favor. Why would the Vikings trade away the future of the franchise and sign a 42 year old has-been who the Jets didn’t even want? Especially a 42 year old has-been who their fan base despises. All this is is clickbait of the highest degree.
Got you didn’t it? LOL
I want to see Jameis Winston in Minnesota. Maybe O’Connell can help him somewhat. He’s also competition for McCarthy and may get an opportunity to start. At worst, he’s a nice backup QB to have.
let it go. they aren’t signing Rodgers unless JJ has a season ending injury in training camp. Kirk Cousins is more likely to end up with them as a backup – if ATL will trade a #2 pick with him if they want someone to pick up a large portion of the cap hit
Nothing like the reliable clickbait of an Aaron Rodgers article. I hope I’m not the only reader who is thoroughly over all of the following:
Tiger’s s Return To Health Bodes Well For Majors Chances This Season
Tiger’s Latest Injury Leaves Masters’ Chances In Doubt
Tiger Misses Cut, Disappointed In Conditioning
LeBron James Said To Be Considering Retirement Postponement Until As-Yet Unborn Grandchildren Join Lakers
James Thought To Be Open To Return To Cleveland
Are This Year’s Lakers Greatest Defense In League History?
I’m ready for my closeup, Mr DeMille, here’s a whole article I am just now writing, and I am available for consulting and commissions:
An inside source told media sources today that team officials for the (Insert team name) have discussed the possibility of signing Aaron Rodgers for the upcoming season, where he is seen as a possible bridge to (Insert name of other QB). “Certainly, this could always be a possibility”, said the source, and it is known that other people may somewhat agree with that sentiment.
Rodgers, coming off his (random number) consecutive season of crap performance, has stated that he is open to continuing to accept millions of dollars to draw attention to himself, carry on like a prima donna, and accept the opportunity to espouse his alternative lifestyle beliefs, including crackpot conspiracy theories and thoroughly debunked medical opinions.
Rodgers was a really good quarterback at one time, and (this team) has some optimism that he may suddenly discover the Fountain of Youth, much like my previous articles have recently suggested the same of LeBron James, Tiger Woods, and, somewhat embarrassingly, Y.A. Tittle, who turns out, in fact, to be dead.
NFL insiders have also reported that any number of other teams may have had similar conversations, though there is some indication that no deals are imminent.
Rodgers, who is known to be famously tight-lipped about himself, refused to affirm or deny that this non-story has any more truthfulness than the previous 349 stories that we have written about him this year, though it is believed that he, Tiger Woods and LeBron James may be creating a PR initiative that will offer daily reports on their fading careers.
Please contact my agent if there is any institutional interest in this story, which I can rewrite, daily, as the need will obviously arise.
The amount of people who hate Rodgers entirely because he went on a podcast will never not be hilarious to me.
No different than people who hated Kanye because of what he said about George Bush.
This is not about hatred of Aaron Rodgers.
This is about “Aaron Rodgers is so far removed from realistic consideration as a top tier NFL QB in 2025 as Alfred E. Neuman, and it’s time to let this narrative go”.
But he arguably is still a high level QB.
But what do you think about Kanye?
This is just BS. there is no way the Vikings bring in a locker room cancer like Rodgers. J.J. is their man and a signing like Tre Lance for QB2 is more likely.