Rodgers is hoping to receive and offer from Minnesota in free agency
According to The Athletic’s Mike Silver, a Bay Area sportswriter who has been close to Aaron Rodgers throughout his NFL career, the former Green Bay Packers quarterback hopes to be a Minnesota Viking by the end of the offseason. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants are prepared to make Rodgers their next starting quarterback, but the 41-year-old appears to be waiting on clarity on where the Vikings stand before he makes a decision on where he’ll play in 2025.
Per Silver, Rodgers “is hoping to sign with the Vikings” and Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell holds the keys to whether or not he’ll receive that offer. Apparently, Rodgers is expecting to sign a contract in the ballpark of Sam Darnold, who left the Vikings this offseason, in the $33.5 million range.
Ultimately, O’Connell is going to have to decide whether he wants to roll the dice with Rodgers, an aging former four-time NFL MVP, or J.J. McCarthy, who the Vikings drafted 10th overall last offseason before he suffered a preseason knee injury that ended his rookie campaign early and required several surgeries. According to Over the Cap’s most recent calculations, Minnesota has $29.9 million in cap space available this offseason — not including rookie contracts or further free agency signings.
Silver also noted that if the Vikings don’t extend a deal toward Rodgers, there’s a chance that Rodgers simply retires instead of opting to play for the Steelers or Giants.
Rodgers sure wouldn’t be distancing himself from Brett Favre if he goes through and plays in purple. Favre, who was the starting quarterback when Rodgers was drafted, also played one real season with the New York Jets in between his Packers and Vikings stints. Maybe Jordan Love will finally buck this trend in 2040.