Even at 41, Aaron Rodgers had stalled the quarterback market. The Vikings hovered on the forefront of this stoppage, because the connection between Rodgers and Minnesota proved enough to halt delay the long run Hall of Famer’s decision and impact other dominoes from falling.
While the Vikings don’t seem like definitively out on giving Rodgers the possibility to finish the Brett Favre profession arc, it does sound like they’re prepared to face down. The team is staying out of the Rodgers chase in the intervening time, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Although the Vikes are still planning so as to add a veteran passer, it’s unlikely to be Rodgers.
As could possibly be expected, the Vikings have also informed teams J.J. McCarthy isn’t 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 because the Vikings centered their 2024 offseason across 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 must be positioned to, even considering Rodgers’ glacial pace this offseason, hear a solution soon. Each teams have made offers, however the Vikings had muddied the market resulting from presenting intrigue after a 14-3 season with Darnold on the controls. Minnesota’s current stance will not be final, but it should put Rodgers, Pittsburgh and Latest York to decisions. The Vikings are merely not able to commit to Rodgers without delay, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who indicates the NFC North club “strongly considered” the aging QB. Though, unless Rodgers desires to wait out McCarthy’s offseason work, he might want to make a choice.
Rodgers taking an prolonged period before selecting wouldn’t exactly be out of character, especially at this stage of his profession, and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adds no indication has emerged this Vikings development will speed up the Rodgers market. However the Giants and Steelers will soon need answers with the intention to have some clarity moving forward. The Vikings’ early call here should move the Russell Wilson market along and maybe give Kirk Cousins a clearer picture about his future. The highest option caught within the crosshairs here, Wilson has visited the Browns and Giants and is believed to be ready to hitch a team soon.
A report from The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson emerged previously indicating some Steelers optimism on Rodgers, who had grow to be a goal for the team days before the legal tampering period began. While the Giants were connected to Rodgers first, the Steelers — as their efforts to maintain Justin Fields from testing the market failed — soon became a suitor. Nearly nine days into free agency, Anderson adds the Steelers feel like they’re “getting closer” on a Rodgers resolution.
The Vikings seem like aiming lower for a McCarthy bridge, which is smart given the team’s investment in the previous national championship-winning arm. In search of 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 could be interesting (seeing because 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 prolonged Rodgers link by re-signing Daniel Jones, but he selected the Colts resulting from a greater likelihood to be an prolonged starter.
A Rodgers signing would have all but buried the chance for McCarthy to start out in Week 1; the Vikings are clearly hopeful the Michigan product will have the option to take over immediately. A lower-profile stopgap would bring insurance reasonably than a real bridge. The Vikings’ current stance will brighten the highlight on McCarthy’s form to start out the team’s offseason program, which doesn’t begin for multiple weeks. Within the meantime, the Giants and Steelers will need to know who their Week 1 starter shall be.
The Giants are believed to have submitted the very best Rodgers offer, though the Steelers have conveyed their interest and present the very best likelihood for the 20-year veteran to carry onto a starting job throughout the season. The returning Mason Rudolph would profile as a transparent Rodgers backup, and the Steelers holding the No. 21 overall pick (in comparison with the Giants’ No. 3 spot), would limit them within the draft.
The wait continues, and it should 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 didn’t give the Vikings QB clarity until mid-August 2009, signing with Minnesota late in training camp. The Packers’ decision to go along with Rodgers a 12 months earlier didn’t grow to be 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 might be stunning if the Giants and Steelers were comfortable with any comparable delay. Their futures with Rodgers must be known fairly soon.
