The Aaron Rodgers market has persisted long enough that Russell Wilson is taking visits. Appearing to sit behind his former 2014 NFC championship game opponent the aging QB pecking order, Wilson has attempted to shake things up with Browns and Giants meetings. Wilson is meeting with Big Blue today.
But the Giants have done plenty of work on Rodgers. Linked to the 41-year-old cap casualty for several days, the Giants may also be leading the way in terms of offers. Although the Steelers have also made Rodgers an offer, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicated during her Scoop City podcast (h/t Steelers Depot) that New York is believed to have submitted a better offer.
Considering the earnings Rodgers has put together, the Giants offering a bit more probably would not move the needle enough. If the former Packers and Jets starter were to join the Giants, fit would most likely be the top box to check. Money is not believed to be the driver of Rodgers’ delay with the Steelers, so it would stand to reason no Giants offer would be pushing him in either direction. That said, a sizable gap forming between the two teams’ proposals could serve as a tiebreaker of sorts.
The Jets discussed Rodgers with “five or six” teams since the Combine, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson tweets, but they had previously determined they were moving on. It would appear that Gang Green made a last-ditch attempt to trade Rodgers, but nothing transpired on that front. Rodgers became a post-June 1 release Wednesday, saddling the Jets with $49MM in dead money through 2026. The Jets’ new regime making the call to move on from an all-time QB talent only to see three more teams swoop in is rather interesting, and the wild-card suitor here may be helping drive the delay.
Rodgers was viewed as being intrigued by a Vikings partnership — in what would be an eerily similar move to some late-2000s activity involving the Packers’ previous starting quarterback — but SI.com’s Albert Breer adds that, as of Thursday night, the Vikes were merely considering diving into the Rodgers market. Going a bit further here, Russini notes that the Vikings are “seriously” considering Rodgers, who is giving the NFC North team time to make its decision. That extra piece of information from Russini may do the best to explain this delay; the Vikings appear to be holding up the Steelers and Giants’ QB plans.
In addition to completing the Brett Favre arc, a Rodgers-to-Minnesota storyline would leave the Steelers and Giants scrambling at QB. While the Giants hold the No. 3 overall pick — and likely would still be connected to using it to acquire a QB even if Rodgers signs — the Steelers reside at No. 21. Rodgers choosing Pittsburgh would stand to give him the best chance of finishing the 2025 season as a starter, but he has clearly shown respect for what the Vikings have put together under Kevin O’Connell.
Minnesota has now been connected to Rodgers for nearly a week, with the Steelers being in play a bit longer. Both Sam Darnold and Vikes contingency plan Daniel Jones committed elsewhere. Jones was down to a Minnesota-or-Indianapolis choice; had the late-season Vikings addition chosen to stay in the Twin Cities, we might have a Rodgers answer by now. Jones, however, signed with the Colts to push Anthony Richardson. It will be interesting to see if either the Giants or Steelers blink and go with Wilson, whose free agency is in an interesting position at this point.
While it remains interesting Rodgers has this much sway after a wildly underwhelming Jets tenure, the glaring needs the Giants and Steelers bring partially explains it. One member of this trio will be left without Rodgers or Wilson, providing serious complications about 2025 viability. The Falcons have not let Kirk Cousins out of his contract (yet), and the Browns’ interest in Wilson provides another wrinkle here.
The Vikings are still preparing to give the keys to J.J. McCarthy, but a true entrance into the Rodgers derby would seemingly throw a wrench into the 2024 draftee’s timetable. Minnesota’s confidence in McCarthy would also stand to give Rodgers pause, but for now, he appears genuinely intrigued about see what the team’s sales pitch would be.
Only QBs with lower QBR last season were Jones, Richardson, Dak, and Levis. He’s known to not be a good mentor to young QBs. Not going to be a super cheap deal.
Why would the Vikings want him ?
He was a good mentor for 3 seasons to love
Its like they just come up with their own history lol
Caleb Williams is on that list, too, for completions’ sake…
But they obviously think that he’ll be better outside of the Jets, which isn’t hard to imagine. Rodgers can still throw, and he wasn’t terrible last year. ESPN’s QBR was bad, but Rodgers’ TDs (28) were more than Hurts’ (18), Mahomes’ (26) and tied with Allen’s (28), which are the three highest achieving quarterbacks last year. Rodgers was eighth in passing yards and in touchdowns overall, and tied with Mahomes for 11 INTs. That’s pretty good.
The bad is his YPA, which was a measly 6.7. That puts him in the territory of Bryce Young (6.7), Bo Nix (6.7), or Mahomes (6.8). It’s not the lowest in the league, but it’s lower half (Caleb Williams, for reference, had an appalling 6.3). However, Rodgers also had WAY more attempts than most QBs. He was second in the league with 584, trailing only Burrow’s ridiculous 652. Mahomes compares, with a 581 number, but as you can see, that’s a telling statistic for an offense-especially one led by a 41 year old quarterback with an old and incapable offensive line.
So, why do the Vikings want Rodgers? Well, if you lose your quarterback, why wouldn’t you want a player who was top ten in yards and touchdowns to replace him? Especially if that guy tied or surpassed both of the Super Bowl winners and the league MVP in doing so? No, before you say so, this is not an argument that Rodgers had a better year (although he definitely outplayed Mahomes, and I’d say that no matter how far Hurts got, 10 more TDs and 1000 more passing yards for Rodgers is pretty significant). This is an argument that he’ll give you more on the field than any of your options.
The argument against Rodgers is his efficiency (YPA, mainly, which drags down his QBR-same with Williams or Mahomes). As we noted, he also was second in the league in attempts. If you lower his attempts, chances are you improve his averages and efficiency. Obviously Minnesota feels that they can do this, and chances are that they can. They have a better offensive line than the patchwork and aged Jets options, a reliable run game, and have elite receivers. We didn’t get into this, but the Jets were second worst in the league in dropped passes last year, with a whopping 40 (Browns were the worst, with an incredible 48). For context, that’s 7 more than the Packers’ third place finish with 33. None of the quarterbacks referenced above (Mahomes, Allen, Hurts) show up until the Chiefs do with 27 drops. That’s 13 fewer drops than Rodgers had. Hurts, for reference, only had 7 (33 FEWER drops than Rodgers). Eagles were best in the league there…and Hurts went to the Superbowl. And the Vikings? They had 19, was sixth in the league.
Even if nothing changes, Rodgers was a top ten quarterback in most positive stats last year. On top of that, yes, the Vikings think that they can improve Rodgers’ output. After all, they did it with Darnold, who has never had a year like this until now. Cousins was good, but he was great with O’Connell. They’ll offer better receivers (fewer drops), a better line (fewer sacks), and better coaching. Not to mention better defense-the Jets allowed 23.8 PPG, which was 19th. The Vikings allowed 19.9, which was 4th. Rodgers definitely won’t have to throw as much, and O’Connell definitely wouldn’t let him. Lastly, the Vikings probably aren’t going to fire their coach or GM before halfway point this year. Hate Rodgers all you want-most people here do-but to say that he couldn’t offer something to the Vikings is not supported by factual analysis.
If you’re alluding to why Minnesota or the Giants take him, I understand. The Vikes have JJ and personally, I think they have the weapons and talent where they don’t need the sideshow. The Giants will get a future QB in the 1st round
But here in Pittsburgh, it’s more kicking the can down the road. It’s perpetual Groundhogs Day and you have the situation where he’s likely gonna bump heads with both Smith and Tomlin and their 1970’s vision of offensive strategies. The chances of him having a rejuvenation at 42 and leading a team with a great many holes to the promised land in this or next year are slim
So why? Why spend the money on either he or Wilson?
Is Tomlin that delusional that he believes this team is just an aging QB away?
And in the process, you close the door on perhaps getting a young guy who can lead the franchise for years to come. Shough, Dart, Howard, others
I just don’t see Rodgers or Wilson as improving on 9-8 or 10-7.
I was alluding to the Vikings. The Giants would be a repeat of last year, I think, both in team results and drama.
I think the Steelers are a good on field choice, if they’re trying to compete. If there were a young QB worth taking this year for them, I’d probably be against it. Since there isn’t, I think that it could have a positive short term result. But I was speaking specifically in regards to the question, “Why would Minnesota want Rodgers?”
The Steelers have no choice at this point but to kick the can down the road unless you have some magic potion to land them a qb in trade. Even the QBs in this draft do not appear to be franchise type players. The Steelers did the same thing between Bradshaw and Ben with some exceptions like O’Donnell.
Yeah, I get all that. And yeah, I’m hopeful that Khan has some magic potion for a trade.
They actually * didn’t* do things the way you’re describing, however. They relied heavily on the draft with the likes of Stoudt to Brister to O’Donnell and then Kordell
They had a couple hired guns like David Woodley, Mike Tomczak, Kent Graham and Tommy Maddox, but this idea of subsequent years without a franchise-caliber QB via the draft just isn’t working
@AK185 – great research/stats to reveal a clearer context. If you’re Rodgers, why wouldn’t you want to go to a talent heavy, well coached playoff team that plays half its games indoors?
Great summary. Not much else needs to be said
As a Steelers fan, I hope one of these two franchises signs him
If they do, you’re looking at Russ returning. To me, that’s fine, especially if the alternative is Rodgers. But many Steelers fans (especially on this site, haha) hate that idea.
If we don’t sign Rodgers (let Russ “cook” elsewhere) then we have to move Pickens before or during the draft. Rudolph plus a potential mid round rookie will make sure Tomlin’s record breaks and we have a high enough pick that we can either take a QB or potentially package and move up in next year’s draft without losing as many picks from a cost control perspective. The dormancy in FA even with money to spend has to be about comp picks and what *could* potentially happen next year. But, at the same time, I don’t know if there is such a long term plan based off the last couple seasons
To me, let Mason run it and draft a QB like Shough out of Louisville. I mean, I don’t see much difference in what these overpriced guys can do and what he,ll bring
Should trade Pickens regardless, he’s a malcontent and isn’t going to be worth the contract he will demand. Another option is to trade down from 21 into the 2nd round and try to get someone’s #1 next year. Then package all sorts of picks to get the answer in 2026.
The issue with trading George Pickens is his trade value isn’t very high, especially compared to his potential
Imagine if they trade him to the Bills for a 5th round pick, and he goes on to have a pro bowl season..
Absolute best case scenario, they land a 3rd and create a hole at WR again, which would also creates issues
The guy is absolutely electric, and steelers have failed to utilize him properly in any of his seasons yet. They finally have a complementary WR , let’s just see what GP14 got in this new offense
While I am not Rogers biggest fan at this point in time, if Minnesota got Rodgers, I can’t believe Wilson is going to be too excited to go back to Pittsburgh knowing full well he was at least their 3rd choice behind Fields and Rodgers. So my guess is Wilson ends up with the Giants. That leaves Pittsburgh with either Cousins, or if they miss out on him, say Cousins went to Cleveland, than Pittsburgh is left with Rudolph. That is really YIKES!!! Pittsburgh doesn’t have a 2nd rd pick, and spending their 1st on a rookie like Dart is just as frightening as being stuck with Rudolph as their starter. Not a lot of good options for them.
I don’t see any other QBs going to Cleveland unless strictly as a back up. Most likely they draft a QB of the future. They only have two years left of Watson. They just traded for Pickett. If Watson bombs yet again they already a capable QB. I did not say great QB but he is still young enough he could become serviceable. He could also be bad enough if the Browns do not draft a QB this year they could be in prime position to draft one next year.
Watson is hurt for this season, so he is not playing. I still think Cam Ward gets picked first by either the Titans or a trade up by the NY Giants. Most of the mocks that I have seen don’t have Cleveland taking a QB in the 1st rd, but who really has any true clue whether that ends up the case or not? I still think Cousins is a real option for them. He worked with Stefanski before, and would cost the league minimum since Atlanta is paying his salary this season, which in Cleveland’s cap strapped situation is probably their best realistic option if they don’t plan on drafting a QB.
Unless he’s had a metamorphosis like Baker did, I just can’t see Pickett being the answer in Cleveland
The fact that Atlanta has to pay Cousins regardless is why they will likely keep him as an expensive insurance policy to their young QB. He doesn’t seem the type to disrupt a locker room.
I would love to see the soap opera that would transpire with a Tomlin/Rodgers team-up.
Giants fan, Wilson okay, Rodgers no way, unless organization is way beyond inept
Buzz Lightyear on the Giants ineptness: “To infinity and beyond” 🙂
Agreed
I have no interest in Wilson. He has been bad for years and has flamed out in his last 2 one year stops. At least Rodgers has a shot to be a decent QB. HUGE Nutcase though.
Go for it, Vikes. As long as he isn’t a Steeler.
MN pitch Rodgers? Yeah right
He is a potential culture risk & possible Coach-killer.
Roster is loaded & many aspects of the team given high-marks in the NFL PA survey.
Rodgers needs to pitch MN. Come in humble & cheap. Needs to show winning > his ego