There is a reason why future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains a free agent after he was cut by the New York Jets earlier this week. Despite having offers on the table from the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodgers reportedly prefers to wait to get a call from the Minnesota Vikings.
According to a joint report by Michael Silver, Dianna Russini, and Alec Lewis of The Athletic, Rodgers is “hoping to sign with the Vikings.” However, it will be up to Minnesota’s head coach Kevin O’Connell whether the move materializes.
The Vikings believe that they could be a contender with Rodgers under center in 2025 but are hesitant to pull the trigger due to the presence of second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The front office and coaching staff fear that adding Rodgers might hamper McCarthy’s growth and be perceived as a lack of faith in the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
McCarthy was impressive in the preseason and was reportedly in play to be the team’s Week 1 starter as a rookie before suffering a season-ending injury. The Vikings then turned to Sam Darnold and went 14-3 before being eliminated by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs.
Rodgers endured a rough season with the New York Jets, going 5-13 while throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. After the Jets decided to move on from him, Rodgers was believed to be short on options, but now several teams see him as their potential starting quarterback in 2025.
Rodgers would have a clear path to start for the Giants and Steelers, as these teams don’t have viable options at the quarterback position at the moment. However, the Vikings would give him a better shot at finishing his career at a high level considering their stacked roster.
