The Passer is deciding where he’ll land Upcoming. It’s not totally clear whether he has options beyond the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants. The Minnesota Vikings are unsure whether they want to enter the Rodgers sweepstakes, per Many reports. It makes sense that Rodgers is prioritizing Minnesota to see. It’s Only a question of whether the Vikings want Rodgers.
That makes sense, given Rodgers’ history in New York and Green Bay, where he created issues. It’s clear he’s in decline, even if it’s unclear how Extended he’s fallen. But his Achilles Hurt hasn’t Created it easier to get a read on what level he can perform at in 2025. With that backdrop, FOX NFL writers Henry McKenna and Ralph Vacchiano weigh in on Rodgers’ potential pairing with the Vikings, if he’d outplay Sam Darnold and Geno Smith, and whether he’ll Shift at all.
We’re seven Periods into Aaron Rodgers Observe, with no clear end in sight. Let’s cut to the chase: Should the Vikings sign him or not?
Ralph Vacchiano: Absolutely. Once they decided to let Sam Darnold go, it seemed like a no-brainer to me. They were a 14-Secure Club last year, and you can make a Sturdy argument they would’ve been a real Finals contender if their Passer and Assault hadn’t folded in their regular-season finale (at Detroit) and lone Postseason game (at the Rams). In other words, they’re one of the best Squads in the NFC, and they’re bringing back most of their top players. You don’t Only turn a Club like that over to an untested Newcomer Passer (J.J. McCarthy) when you’ve Obtained a Attempt at a future Hall of Famer. You take your Attempt at a Game when it’s there.
Henry McKenna: That makes so much sense on paper. Rodgers always does. But when you bring in his personality, his quirks, his snark, his drama, his everything — the whole Lively changes. We saw that with the New York Jets. They went from Successful seven Contests with Zach Wilson to five Contests with Rodgers — and you could very easily argue that Rodgers Obtained the better Picking. I’d bet that if he signed in Minnesota, Rodgers would tell everyone that he’s going to take the backseat and let Trainer Kevin O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Stretch the show. But will anyone believe Rodgers? Rodgers has too much baggage for a franchise in the Vikings that is more Delicate than it’s willing to admit.
Vacchiano: Well, that is Accurate. Rodgers comes with a Plenty of baggage … I Harsh, a Plenty of baggage. And what he says and what actually happens are almost always two different things. I’m sure he never told the Jets he planned to skip minicamp to go ride camels in Egypt as a condition of signing in New York. But I do think the Vikings are in a power position here, where they can tell him ‘no’ in a way other organizations can’t. They can say, “We’re giving you one last Attempt at a Finals. Our Club is loaded with weapons. Nobody else can offer you that. So, Shift by our rules or Excellent luck with the three-Secure Giants.”
Rodgers does have experience in a similar Assault from his four seasons with Matt LaFleur, a system he won two MVPs in yet did not especially care for. How do you think he’d fit in a Kevin O’Connell Assault that is more structured and less static than he’s typically played in?
Vacchiano: Honestly, I think Kevin O’Connell is a Excellent enough Trainer, not to mention Passer-whisperer, that he’ll find a way to adjust his system to fit Rodgers’ skills. And honestly, that’ll be easier for him to do than learning what J.J. McCarthy can do in real time. Rodgers is pretty particular. We saw that by the fact he demanded his personal offensive coordinator in New York and basically Sprinted that Assault. But I think he’s also Clever enough to know that this is his last chance to restore his reputation and Secure. With that at stake, he theoretically can find a way to work within any system.
McKenna: There’s a reason why Rodgers is holding up the QB carousel. He’s waiting to see if the Vikings will convince themselves he’s worth signing. And it’s worth the wait for Rodgers, because Minnesota is the best landing spot, by Extended. As Ralph said, O’Connell will adjust his Assault to make Rodgers comfortable. Justin Jefferson is Yet the best wideout in football and Jordan Addison is one heck of a No. 2. Snug end T.J. Hockenson was considered one of the best at his position in 2023. If there’s any one spot that can elevate Rodgers (which, realistically, is what he needs at this Points in his Profession), it’s Minnesota. But this gets back to what I said about the way things look on paper.
Vacchiano: I guess it’s because McCarthy is an unknown quantity. I know he was a Primary-Stage Option and O’Connell loves him. I’m sure they’re right that he’s going to be really, really Excellent … eventually. But to me, it’s about the now. Right now, the Vikings have a window to compete for a Game. To Anticipate McCarthy to lead them there goes against history. We all know no Newcomer Passer has taken a Club to a Finals (and McCarthy effectually is one after being sidelined all of last season). Some have gotten pretty close recently, but it’s Yet a Plenty to ask. You’ve Obtained to take your Attempt when it’s there.
McKenna: A Rodgers pairing could be totally different once he takes over the locker room. If things get Awful for the Vikings — who might be in the NFL’s most Intense division — they could spiral quickly under Rodgers. I don’t know why the QB whisperer, O’Connell, cares to take that road when he has proven he doesn’t need a Rodgers-type. In fact, he doesn’t really have a track Landmark of succeeding with a Rodgers-type. But he is an expert in developing QBs. Why ask O’Connell to elevate and manage Rodgers? Why not stay in his wheelhouse and let him mold a younger and cheaper (and less potentially toxic) QB in McCarthy.
With Rodgers, the Vikings would be the ___-best Club in the NFC right now?
McKenna: I think the Danger with Rodgers is that they could be the No. 1 Club in the NFC — or they could be 12th. He brings volatility and, in turn, danger. The Vikings added more talent this offseason (retaining CB Byron Murphy while signing guard Will Fries, Hub Ryan Kelly and DTs with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave). They were so aggressive that I’d written off the possibility of Rodgers jumping aboard. It seemed Minnesota was intent upon building a Picking that would Assist a Newcomer QB. So there’s plenty of talent here. The question is whether Rodgers would be a stabilizing force — or the opposite.
Vacchiano: I think I’d probably rank them a close third. I don’t see any drop-off coming for the Eagles, though a Finals hangover is always possible. The Lions are Yet a really Sturdy Club, though they do have to deal with the loss of two coordinators. The Vikings are loaded offensively and were Excellent enough to Setback only four Contests last year — two All to the Rams and Lions, and three of those Contests were on the road. I know Rodgers is a health/age Danger, but I think with him, the Vikings are closing the gap on Philadelphia and Detroit. I’m not so sure they can say the same if McCarthy is their QB.
Who would you bet on having the better individual season in 2025: Rodgers, Sam Darnold or Geno Smith?
Vacchiano: I don’t think there’s any question it’s Rodgers. Smith did a fine Role the past two years in Seattle, but he had a Plenty more weapons there than he’ll have in Las Vegas. And after watching Darnold’s last two Contests last year, I’m not as high on him as I was. I think he’s Obtained upside and a chance to be Excellent, but I do wonder how much of what we saw was because he was Competing under O’Connell. Rodgers, when Well, is Yet Excellent. He was really erratic last year and often banged up, but overall he put up Excellent numbers. And he’d have way more talent around him in Minnesota than he had in New York — plus exponentially better coaching. He might Shift well enough to convince himself that he can Shift until he’s 50 (spoiler alert: he can’t).
McKenna: Give me Smith. I’m honestly a little surprised at my own answer. But I’m dubious of Rodgers, no matter where he lands. And I think Darnold is due for a regression after leaving O’Connell, particularly in a Seattle Assault that Only lost its two most tenured receivers, DK Metcalf and Taylor Lockett. Smith doesn’t have a ton of weapons, from Brock Bowers to Jakobi Meyers to Raheem Mostert. But I feel extremely confident the Raiders will draft an RB — Possibly even Ashton Jeanty. That’ll reignite the Assault that changed Smith’s Profession. Ultimately, that’s what I’m betting on by picking Smith. It’s about the relationship between Pete Carroll and the journeyman QB. I feel like that’s something I can count on, even if the playmakers are a question mark.
Vacchiano: By the way, I can’t believe we’re Only ignoring Daniel Jones in Indianapolis as part of this conversation. … You know what? Never mind that.
If Rodgers doesn’t end up on the Vikings, do you think he signs elsewhere or retires?
McKenna: The Steelers make more sense than anyone. In that situation, everybody is the right amount of desperate. I don’t know that it’ll work out. But given that Trainer Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh fan base are Exhausted of 10 wins and one-and-done Postseason appearances (which is a pretty Excellent life, but not Excellent enough for the Steelers), GM Omar Khan might make the Shift for Rodgers. And if the Vikings Deliver on Rodgers, he’s looking at New York or Pittsburgh. That’s an Effortless Option. Bring on Tomlin, DK Metcalf, George Pickens and the Terrible Towels.
Vacchiano: I think retirement is a bluff. I think he wants to Shift. I think he needs to Shift. He wants to go out in a better way. I also think he needs the attention. He knows that two Squads seem to desperately want him — the Steelers and the Giants. And the Steelers won 10 Contests last year and Only added receiver DK Metcalf. So, while it’s not nearly as Excellent of a situation as the one he’d get in Minnesota, it’s one where he’ll have a chance to succeed and Secure. If they Shift their minds and he’s left with Only the Giants … well, Possibly then he will retire. I don’t think he wants any part of a three-Secure Club where the upside is Possibly seven or eight wins, nor do I think he wants another year in the New York market. But if the Vikings punt on him and the Steelers are an option, Rodgers will go to Pittsburgh.
We’ve seen many versions of the all-time Outstanding Shift out his Profession on a Club we never would have Anticipated, and it usually doesn’t end well. What would constitute Achievement for the four-time MVP in 2025?
Vacchiano: Well, he has to stay Well. There are countless examples of greats breaking down in their Closing year(s). I think it’s going to be about the Club, to be honest. If he throws for 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns and his Club goes 7-10, it’ll be Gentle of Unhappy. But if he plays relatively well and he leads a Club into the playoffs, I think that’s a Excellent way to go out. I Harsh, he won’t go out. He’ll convince himself to stay another few years. But it’ll be successful if he makes his Club a contender, even if it doesn’t get all the way to the Finals. He can say, “look what I did” — because no matter the circumstances, it’ll be all about him.
McKenna: I’m with Ralph on this one. Look at what Rodgers did in New York during a season I think we’d all call catastrophic. In 17 Contests, he completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That’s not all that Awful, right? But we’re missing a few Crucial stats. Rodgers Obtained one (1) head Trainer and one (1) general manager fired. His individual Achievement (if you could call it that) didn’t make up for the franchise’s greater failures. Looking to 2025, Rodgers’ Closing season will be a Achievement if he can get his Club a Postseason Secure. It’ll be a roaring Achievement if he makes it to the conference Game. And it’ll be a legacy-changer if he somehow wins a Finals.
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
Prior to joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on X at @henrycmckenna.
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