The Minnesota Vikings have emerged as a real player in the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes. Reports and rumors started swirling this morning with ESPN’s Dan Graziano saying the Vikings’ interest could be holding up Rodgers’ decision. Now we have further confirmation via The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
“Vikings decision-makers are still evaluating their options at quarterback, including the possibility of signing Aaron Rodgers,” Russini wrote. “The four-time MVP is intrigued by the idea of playing in Minnesota. For now, it’s a waiting game, sources tell Mike Silver and me.”
Each situation has its own unique upside and downside for Rodgers. If he values having a real shot at competing deep into the playoffs and possibly even for a Super Bowl, the Vikings are probably the best bet coming off a 14-3 season powered by Sam Darnold.
With Darnold headed to the Seattle Seahawks, the Vikings could be looking to maximize this current window while 2024 first-round QB J.J. McCarthy develops. They reportedly liked McCarthy in the offseason and preseason last year, but they were close to something special in 2024, and a veteran gives them the best chance to succeed in the present.
This also gives Rodgers more leverage in any existing negotiations. If money is holding up a Rodgers-Steelers deal, then things could now be more complicated with the presence of a third and potentially better option.
The Vikings probably don’t have high-end money to commit to Rodgers. They have a lot of highly paid players already on their roster, and they went on a spending spree in free agency. They retained CB Byron Murphy and RB Aaron Jones, which were not cheap deals, and then they signed OG Will Fries, DT Jonathan Allen, C Ryan Kelly, CB Isaiah Rodgers, and DT Javon Hargrave. They spent a ton of money and probably can’t afford to give Rodgers as much as the Steelers or Giants could.
If the Giants were offering more money and the Steelers were offering more chances at success, where does that now leave the Steelers with the Vikings trumping them in the latter category?
