Sam Darnold made a remarkable career comeback with the Minnesota Vikings last season but ultimately fell short in the postseason. The Vikings chose not to re-sign him in free agency, and Darnold went on to ink a massive $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
Minnesota also allowed quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Nick Mullens to walk, leaving J.J. McCarthy as their sole quarterback. With over $40 million in cap space, the Vikings are reportedly eyeing four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers as a potential quarterback option.
Aaron Rodgers to Minnesota?
According to Diana Russini of The Athletic, the Vikings are considering Rodgers as a possible addition to their roster. While the team has made several free-agent moves, they are still evaluating all their quarterback options, including Rodgers.
Rodgers is also drawing attention from the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants, but sources say the 41-year-old veteran is intrigued by the possibility of joining the Vikings. Russini reported that Minnesota’s decision-makers are continuing to assess their options, with Rodgers still very much in the conversation. “For now, it’s a waiting game,” she added.
Aaron RodgersIf Rodgers were to join the Vikings, it would make for an intriguing storyline. The veteran quarterback could follow a similar path to Brett Favre, who spent over a decade with the Packers, won a Super Bowl, then played one season with the Jets before finishing his career with Minnesota.
McCarthy and the Future of the Vikings’ Quarterback Position
Minnesota selected J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and while he appeared to be trending toward the starting role, he suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason opener. He is expected to return this spring.
There is a precedent for an aging veteran thriving in Minnesota after a rough stint in New York. Favre had a standout All-Pro season, leading the Vikings to a 12-4 record and an NFC Championship Game appearance. Rodgers could follow a similar trajectory in 2025, potentially leading Minnesota for a year before passing the baton to McCarthy.
Rodgers’ 2024 Season Stats:
Rodgers finished 21st in PFSN’s QB+ metric with a grade of 72.2 (C-). His EPA per dropback was -0.02, ranking 27th, and he placed 36th in clean-pocket performance (0.07 EPA per dropback). Rodgers converted just 33.5% of third downs (29th), and his 6.2 net yards per attempt ranked 30th, despite benefiting from 5.8 yards after catch per completion, which ranked ninth.
Leave a Reply