Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Have No Timeline For Aaron Rodgers Deal, Still Exploring Other QBs

March 30th, 2025 at 7:18pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that the team has no exact timeline to sign Aaron Rodgers, per team writer Dale Lolley.

Training camp, however, would be a “line of demarcation,” per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. At that point, not having a quarterback in place would hinder the team’s ability to build chemistry and cohesiveness before the season.

Pittsburgh’s public pursuit of the four-time MVP has not advanced past a six-hour visit on March 21. Tomlin said that the two sides were focused on getting to know each other during the meeting. He also did not rule out another addition to a Steelers quarterback room that currently features two players – Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson – who have combined for 21 career starts.

“We’re still evaluating the acquisition of a guy at the position, whether it’s in free agency and/or the draft,” said Tomlin (via Lolley).

Rodgers is the only starting-caliber quarterback available in free agency, but the Steelers could explore trading for Kirk Cousins after the draft. That would likely be predicated on Pittsburgh not picking a quarterback in the first round of April’s draft. The team currently holds the No. 21 pick, where top quarterback prospects Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are not expected to be available.

The Steelers have been scouting the rest of the 2025 quarterback class, including Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, Ohio State’s Will Howard, and Texas’ Quinn Ewers. Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan visited all three schools’ pro days in recent weeks, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.

Tomlin also acknowledged the possibility of entering the season with Rudolph as the starter.

“I think that’s why we reacquired him. We like Mason Rudolph, but you know, that’s no secret,” he said (via DeFabo).

Latest On Steelers, Aaron Rodgers

March 29th, 2025 at 10:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Aaron Rodgers wait persists in Pittsburgh. Not viewed as being the clubhouse leaders for the future Hall of Fame quarterback, the Giants took themselves out of the running this week by signing Russell Wilson. Letting Wilson walk without showing much offseason interest, the Steelers have met with Rodgers and continue to hope he accepts their offer.

Pittsburgh is not believed to have raised its offer since submitting it near the beginning of free agency, and New York leaving this derby may not convince the AFC North club to update it. That said, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the 41-year-old passer is viewed as being more focused on a potential fit than additional money he can add to his career earnings.

Considering Rodgers has made more than $380MM in his career, not making money the lead driver here makes sense. On that note, Bleacher Report’s James Palmer adds (h/t Steelers Depot’s Troy Montgomery) some in the Steelers’ building are wondering whether a Rodgers addition would mean overhauling Pittsburgh’s offense to suit the veteran or if the 20-year QB would assimilate into Arthur Smith‘s scheme.

This could bring be a bit of give and take, though it should be noted the Buccaneers and Broncos eventually tailored their schemes to suit Tom Brady and Peyton Manning‘s respective skillsets. However, Rodgers’ attempt to follow his more accomplished peers’ lead by thriving after a late-career relocation did not go well after the Jets imported the QB’s preferred scheme.

Smith and Wilson clashed during the latter’s lone Pittsburgh season, and Rodgers certainly has a reputation as a demanding presence. But Rodgers is also believed to be seeking a Packers-like environment, per Breer, after his Jets partnership went south. The Steelers use a similar contract blueprint to the Packers’ and carry an established culture, one currently fostered by the likes of Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Those defenders’ primes have hit a wall thanks largely to shaky quarterback play. Although Rodgers’ shtick may not be for everyone, the Steelers are willing to take a chance here due to the shortcomings they have seen at QB this decade.

As for where this stands, Rodgers has still not given any indication regarding when he will decide. He is believed to have told the Vikings they would be his preference. Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did not completely rule out Rodgers, but the team is pausing a potential pursuit — despite some support in the building for one — to give J.J. McCarthy free rein during the offseason program. Unless Rodgers wants to take a Brett Favre-like approach and wait for a Vikings fit to emerge this summer, he will need to let the Steelers know on a decision soon. The team is doing homework on QBs in the draft, preparing to host Jaxson Dart on a “30” visit in April.

Confirming the team is doing plenty of homework on this QB draft class, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said during a SportsCenter appearance the Steelers are nevertheless optimistic on Rodgers. This reminds of a weekend report that viewed a Rodgers-Steelers union as likely.

More notably, Fowler indicates several around the league’s QB market assume the Steelers probably received a degree of assurance that Rodgers will commit to Pittsburgh at some point. With Wilson believed to have remained interested in a second Steelers contract, the team standing down and letting him walk could well point to confidence Rodgers will sign eventually.

The draft may not provide a true deadline, but the Steelers would obviously prefer to know if they have a surefire 2025 starter before potentially making a plan to acquire an heir apparent. If Rodgers opts to retire or informs the Steelers he will wait on the Vikings, the team would be in a tough spot. With Wilson gone, Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz and Ryan Tannehill — the latter having not played in 2024 — are the most notable bridge options available in free agency. Kirk Cousins would be an option after the draft, as the Falcons QB will wait to see how teams operate there before waiving his no-trade clause, but he would appeal to the Browns (and ex-boss Kevin Stefanski) as well.

Aaron Rodgers Informed Vikings They Are His Preferred Team

March 25th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Steelers confidence re: Aaron Rodgers has emerged, the allure of a Vikings landing spot persists. Minnesota is standing down on Rodgers for the time being. The team intends to give J.J. McCarthy the first crack at starter reps during its offseason program.

This places Rodgers in a bit of a bind, and it also could stall the Steelers and Giants and potentially force one or both teams to blink as this holding pattern continues. Rodgers has gone as far as, per ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert, informing the Vikings they are his preferred destination.

Rodgers, 41, has been careful not to rule out teams; doing so would decrease his leverage. He views the Giants as a viable option, even though New York’s offer — one believed to be the best the future Hall of Famer has received this offseason — is unlikely to produce a deal. The Steelers hosted Rodgers on a visit Friday, but they have not upped their offer made at the beginning of free agency. Nevertheless, some around the league view it as a safe bet the Steelers will end up with Rodgers. Though, he may well continue to wait on Minnesota rather than force a Pittsburgh fit.

If Rodgers waits, more comparisons to his Packers predecessor will undoubtedly emerge. After the Jets relinquished Brett Favre‘s rights — due to a poison-pill provision in the Packers-Jets trade from 2008 — in 2009, Favre spent more than three months in free agency. The Vikings added him on August 18, 2009. The Vikings did not receive word Favre would unretire for a third time until August 18, 2010. The Giants and Steelers will almost definitely not wait that long on Rodgers this offseason, but the Vikings may be willing to hold here due to the McCarthy onramp they are creating.

McCarthy did stop short of confirming the Vikings guaranteed him the starting job, telling Kay Adams he has not been told he will begin the season as the starter. With no veteran on the roster — despite organizational support for adding Rodgers after a 14-3 season — and a No. 10 overall pick invested, it is safe to say McCarthy is in the driver’s seat to be the NFC North team’s Week 1 signal-caller. Minnesota did make an offer to Daniel Jones, which would have removed the team from the Rodgers market, but the bridge option opted to sign with Indianapolis instead.

“And I’m happy they didn’t, because I try to earn it every single day,” McCarthy said of the starting job (during an Up & Adams appearance) And I never want that to be given to me. it’s such a privilege and opportunity to give me that chance, and I’m just going to make the most of it every single day.”

The Vikings have left open the prospect of signing Rodgers this summer, Seifert adds, presumably after looking at McCarthy during OTAs and minicamp. This would leave roughly seven weeks for the Vikes to reconsider Rodgers, though he may already have a new home by then.

Then again, a Vikings-or-retirement rumor surfaced during this saga. It is not a lock Rodgers would play in Pittsburgh or New York, but it certainly appears the Steelers believe he would delay retirement to play for them. Doing so would preempt a partnership with his top option, however. That could cause Rodgers to keep waiting, even though the Steelers — as of now, at least — will present a better chance for him to start throughout the 2025 season.

Latest On Giants, Russell Wilson; Team Open To Adding QB After No. 3 Overall?

March 25th, 2025 at 3:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Linked to being interested in trading up to No. 1 overall, the Giants may see such a path blocked off thanks to the Titans’ increased interest in Cam Ward. As the Titans schedule another meeting with the Miami quarterback, other teams may need to come to grips with the possibility last year’s No. 4 Heisman finisher will not be available.

The Giants continue to wait on Aaron Rodgers, but as of Sunday, they still look to be sitting third here. Rodgers has visited the Steelers and has been closely tied to the Vikings, who have him on hold for what could be an extended period. The Giants are not viewed as likely to sign Rodgers, but SI.com’s Albert Breer indicates their Jameis Winston addition would not preempt a deal with the four-time MVP.

This is similar to what emerged over the weekend, but Breer does stop short in confirming the Giants would have interest in adding Russell Wilson after the Winston signing. With the Browns potentially waiting on Kirk Cousins, Wilson may be waiting a while, Breer adds. Still eyeing a veteran — even if it is not Rodgers — the Vikings could conceivably loom as a landing spot. For now, however, they will evaluate J.J. McCarthy with their first-stringers during the offseason. The Steelers also loom as a Wilson landing spot, having placed him behind Rodgers in their QB hierarchy.

While Wilson is ready to sign somewhere, having visited the Giants and Browns, it is possible the potential Hall of Famer will need to prepare for an extended stay in free agency. Clearer pictures of teams’ depth charts will emerge post-draft, but that also opens the door to the possibility of teams filling their spots and being less interested in a surefire starter to block a prospect’s path. Then again, this is not viewed as a good quarterback draft.

The Giants did send a sizable contingent to Ward’s pro day Monday, with Breer adding Joe Schoen, assistant GM Brandon Brown, player personnel director Tim McDonnell, OC Mike Kafka, QBs coach Shea Tierney and tight ends coach Tim Kelly were on-hand. (The Hurricanes also have a higher-end tight end prospect in Elijah Arroyo.) Schoen and Tierney, however, were in Louisville today for Tyler Shough‘s pro day, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline adds.

Shough has generated some recent buzz, having already scheduled visits with the Browns and Seahawks. The Giants would not seemingly be in play for Shough at No. 3, but they are not committed to taking a quarterback there. Some around the league view the Giants as in play to sign another veteran and draft a quarterback after No. 3 overall, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. Considering Schoen and Brian Daboll‘s tenuous job statuses, it would be an incredible gamble to leave the first round without a quarterback. But the team would — in the event the Titans go with Ward — be positioned to add either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter at No. 3 if it stays put.

New York could also trade down from 3, and with either Hunter or Carter on the board, offers figure to come in during a draft that may well feature a talent drop-off after that duo. The Giants sliding down the board a bit could give them a chance to add assets — potentially for a QB in the 2026 draft — or select one of this class’ other QB prospects.

Linked closely to Shedeur Sanders, the Giants moving out of No. 3 could nix a partnership with the Colorado product. Though, the Browns have also been linked to Sanders at 2. The draft starting QB-QB would leave the Giants in an uncertain position. Moving down would open the door to Shough, Jaxson Dart or Quinn Ewers. Shough has created enough pre-draft noise to cause teams to circle back to the work they did on him during the season, Dunleavy adds.

Shough’s momentum aside, Daniel Jeremiah and Matt Miller‘s latest NFL.com and ESPN.com big boards respectively do not have the 2024 Louisville starter — a seven-year college athlete — in the top 50. Dart has received some first-round buzz, and he ranks 40th on Jeremiah’s big board and 43rd on Miller’s.

The Giants attempted to trade up for Drake Maye last year, but the Patriots declined a strong offer. Big Blue then passed on McCarthy, Michael Penix and Bo Nix. Miller ranked each member of that trio higher than Ward on a composite prospect rankings list earlier this month, running the risk of the Giants — as they did with Daniel Jones — choosing their QB in the wrong year. With Schoen and Daboll on hot seats, it would seem likely they leave Round 1 with a quarterback. If not, the team holds the No. 34 overall pick and two third-round choices.

As for the Giants’ other options if Rodgers says no, Wilson has now visited twice in two offseasons. The team also hosted Joe Flacco on a visit this month. Drew Lock, who played out a one-year Giants deal, remains in free agency as well. Plenty of moving parts still exist for the Giants, though they have not yet made a move that truly takes them out of the Rodgers running.

Steelers A ‘Safe Bet’ To Sign Aaron Rodgers?

March 23rd, 2025 at 11:48pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

With interest from the Giants waning, the Steelers are now considered the favorite to land Aaron Rodgers.

It is reportedly a “safe bet” that Rodgers signs in Pittsburgh, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, though the unpredictable quarterback’s timeline remains unknown. He spent six hours visiting the Steelers last week, but left the team facility without a deal.

Neither side appears to be in any rush. The majority of free agency has concluded, and there’s still a month until the draft. Until then, Rodgers remains one of the biggest stories in football, much like his 2023 move to the Jets. He certainly doesn’t shy away from the attention, which will continue until he makes a decision. Florio even speculated that Rodgers could use an upcoming Pat McAfee Show in Pittsburgh as a launching pad for his tenure in black and yellow.

The Steelers, meanwhile, already signed Mason Rudolph as a veteran bridge or backup quarterback and could pursue a continue partnership with Russell Wilson. He is still a free agent and has emerged as an alternate option for Pittsburgh if they don’t sign Rodgers. In short, he is not the Steelers’ only option to start at quarterback in 2025.

The inverse, however, might be true. The Vikings are out on Rodgers, and he hasn’t been linked with the Titans or the Browns. No other team has a clear starting opportunity to offer. The NFL’s annual quarterback carousel has started to slow down, and when the music stops, Rodgers may have no choice but to accept the Steelers’ offer if he wants to start this season.

Giants Unlikely To Sign Aaron Rodgers?

March 23rd, 2025 at 4:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants made one move at the quarterback spot by adding Jameis Winston on a two-year deal. That pact does not ensure him a starting role, however, and New York remains in the market for another passer via free agency and/or the first round of the draft.

As a result, the veterans still on the market remain worth monitoring. 2024 Steelers starter Russell Wilson is on the radar of the Giants (along with the Browns), and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio confirms a deal could be in play sending him to New York. As for Aaron Rodgers, though, the situation is somewhat different.

Florio’s report notes the Giants are still in contention for Rodgers but adds it “seems unlikely” an agreement will be reached. The 41-year-old spent the past two years with the Jets, but as expected his time with the team ended with a post-June 1 release. In the wake of the opening stages of free agency – during which the Jets replaced Rodgers with Justin Fields, leaving the Steelers to pursue a different avenue under center – Rodgers has represented the key domino on the market. A Pittsburgh visit took place on Friday, and no other meetings are planned at this point.

With that said, nothing is considered imminent on the Rodgers front for the Steelers or any other team. The Vikings gave serious thought to signing him, but at this point an offer should not be expected. The Giants have already submitted one to Rodgers, and it is believed to be stronger than the one the Steelers made early in free agency and have not yet altered. New York has roughly $17MM in cap space at the moment, putting the team near the bottom of the league in terms of spending power.

The Steelers, by contrast, have nearly $41MM available. Pittsburgh has reunited with Mason Rudolph at the quarterback spot with Wilson looming as a fallback option should a Rodgers deal not be worked out. The Giants no longer representing a strong suitor for the latter would point even further to the Steelers being his top potential landing spot for 2025.

NFL QB Rumors: Rodgers, Wilson, Ward

March 22nd, 2025 at 11:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Yesterday, we saw free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers meet with a Steelers contingent that featured general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The presence of all of the team’s top personnel was interesting to see as the three missed Michigan’s pro day to meet with the 41-year-old passer. The top brass in Pittsburgh tends to all be in attendance for big pro days, and the Wolverines are stacked with first round talent like defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson, and tight end Colston Loveland.

While it may seem like Rodgers leaving without a deal made the meeting unproductive, it appears the meeting wasn’t intended to be about contract negotiations. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Steelers and Rodgers “have had contract parameters in place for weeks.” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds that money discussions are not “expected to get in the way” when it comes to a decision.

The visit was reportedly less about discussions on compensation and more about conversations on fit and Rodgers getting the feel of the Steelers’ leadership and culture. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the six-hour visit was a positive one, and the two sides will remain in touch, though the decision is ultimately in Rodgers’ hands.

Here are a couple other rumors concerning the teams still looking for quarterback help this offseason:

With Pittsburgh pushing all their chips in on Rodgers, it’s become apparent that Russell Wilson has been deemed a backup option for the Steelers, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Wilson is still getting plenty of interest from the Browns and Giants, who despite signing Jameis Winston yesterday, have not been ruled out from signing another veteran passer and/or drafting a rookie quarterback as they begin to rebuild their quarterbacks room from scratch.
Speaking of pro days, Fowler tells us that the Titans will be sending the calvary to Coral Gables for Miami quarterback Cam Ward‘s pro day this Monday. While there has been a lot of momentum for Ward to go No. 1 overall to Nashville, Fowler says that a determination has not yet been made by the Titans. The team still intends to undergo a very thorough determination process, but so far, through interviews at the NFL scouting combine, Ward has acquitted himself well, showing some mistake recognition and coachability to go along with his natural talent.
An interesting note from Fowler adds that, in a perfect world, Tennessee would love to be able to trade back and still land Ward, but there’s worry that he wouldn’t still be around after moving back, perfectly illustrating how position need and importance can inflate a player’s draft stock. Regardless, the sense around the league is that Ward has far and away separated himself from the rest of the quarterbacks in this year’s class.

Jameis Winston Signing Won’t Preclude Giants From Additional QB Moves

March 22nd, 2025 at 8:49am CST by Ben Levine

The Giants finally added a quarterback yesterday when they agreed to terms with Jameis Winston. While the veteran acquisition would seem to represent a bridge option for the organization, the signing may not preclude the Giants from making additional big-name moves at the position.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the addition of Winston wouldn’t prevent the Giants from still adding a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. In fact, even if the Giants do add another veteran to their QBs room, the team would still be expected to add a rookie signal caller with the third-overall pick.

This is similar to what we heard last week. As the Rodgers saga continued, there was a report that the Giants may pull the trigger on a free agent acquisition sooner than later. The team reportedly had an eye on Mason Rudolph, but after striking out on that pursuit, they landed a free agent with even more starting experience.

Winston’s two-year, $8MM agreement with the Giants is certainly in line (or even below) the going rate for backup quarterbacks. With 87 games of starting experience (including seven starts with the Browns in 2024), it was initially assumed that Winston would keep the seat warm for the No. 3 pick. Instead, a rookie acquisition could be redshirted for the 2025 campaign, and Winston could serve as a traditional QB2 to another free agent target.

As Rodgers took a long meeting with the Steelers yesterday, it’s seeming increasingly likely that the Giants’ chances are dwindling in that sweepstakes. Still, there remains a connection between New York and Wilson. Fowler says the veteran QB still views the Giants as a “viable option,” and considering opportunities are starting to dry up around the NFL, Wilson may have to ultimately take what he can get.

With Winston joining Tommy DeVito on the roster, there’s now less urgency for the Giants to make a splash at the position, especially if they intend to use the third-overall pick on a quarterback. However, Winston’s signing does provide the organization with a bit more flexibility, and there’s a good chance the front office isn’t finished reshaping their QBs room.

Aaron Rodgers Visits Steelers

March 21st, 2025 at 11:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

11:45pm: Rodgers has slow-rolled his free agency decision on the advice of his agent, David Dunn, per Pro Football Network’s Mike Florio. The Steelers offered him a contract close to the beginning of free agency, but they have yet to improve the terms of the deal to entice him to sign. Rodgers also met with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith during his visit, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, but left the team’s facility without a deal.

Rodgers has been trying to wait Pittsburgh out in pursuit of a better contract, but he has seen his interest from other teams wane. He does not have any other visits scheduled, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, which may cause the Steelers to stand firm with their initial offer instead of bidding against themselves.

12:34pm: The Aaron Rodgers watch continues, and Friday has seen what could prove to be a notable development. The league’s top remaining free agent quarterback is currently visiting the Steelers’ facility, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The Steelers have long been known as one of the top Rodgers suitors, with discussions picking up around the time of Justin Fields working out a deal with the Jets. Retaining Fields was Pittsburgh’s preference, but his departure leaves the team in need of a veteran passer (which may or may not be 2024 starter Russell Wilson). Mason Rudolph is back in the organization, but his signing has not slowed down Rodgers-Steelers connections.

The Vikings represented the top name to watch on this front until recently. Minnesota has not submitted an offer to Rodgers at this point, and one is not expected as things stand. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is among the suitors which has made an offer. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports it still stands, adding Rodgers met with the Steelers’ coaches today. A deal could be worked out in short order as a result. General manager Omar Khan also took part in today’s summit, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

Since Ben Roethlisberger‘s retirement, Pittsburgh has been unable to find a long-term solution under center. Rodgers would not meet that criteria at the age of 41, but the four-time MVP could provide starting-caliber play on a short-term basis for Pittsburgh or any number of teams. Wilson’s time in the organization went well at first, but at the end of the campaign his play (and that of the offense in general) fell short of expectations.

Owner Art Rooney II made it clear after the Steelers’ wild-card loss that keeping Wilson and Fields in place again in 2025 would be unlikely. The latter quickly secured $30MM guaranteed from the Jets, the team which elected to move on from Rodgers under its new regime of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. That decision did not come as a surprise, but it has not stopped the longtime Packer from generating a notable market. With preliminary Steelers talks not producing an agreement, the Giants have made an offer of their own (one which is believed to be stronger than Pittsburgh’s).

Wilson is ready to sign a deal for 2025, whether it is with Pittsburgh, New York, Cleveland or another suitor. His future will not be clear until the Rodgers domino falls, however. Joe Flacco is another veteran to watch in the case of the Steelers (and other teams still in need of a passer at this stage of free agency). Pittsburgh could begin the next phase of the QB carousel shortly with a Rodgers arrangement.

Teams Contact Vikings On J.J. McCarthy; Minnesota Standing Down On Aaron Rodgers

March 21st, 2025 at 11:22am CST by Sam Robinson

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.

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.

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