2 QBs Dropped in Middle of Vikings Rumor Mill
The Minnesota Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy eight months ago to be the quarterback of the future.
2 QBs Dropped in Middle of Vikings Rumor Mill
The front office and coaching staff absolutely adore him, but some onlookers believe Minnesota will continue to smash McCarthy together with a bridge quarterback while he heals from a meniscus tear.
Of course, the Vikings could hand McCarthy the QB1 baton next offseason — probably the most likely option, all things considered — but two theories have popped up this week to suggest otherwise.
These two names have entered the Vikings’ 2025 quarterback rumor mill.
Aaron Rodgers
The New York Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday, the last remaining entity that brought quarterback Rodgers to New Jersey. Early reporting suggests that Rodgers may not be a priority to re-sign in 2025 and that a new general manager will want his or her own plan and quarterback in 2025.
The implication? Well, Rodgers will have to go somewhere if he doesn’t retire. And according to CBS Sports, the Minnesota Vikings are No. 3 on the list of likeliest landing spots.
After retirement — the most obvious option — and the Tennessee Titans, Cody Benjamin listed the purple team as a possible Rodgers place of employment.
“Besides the storybook parallels to Brett Favre, who also went from Packers legend to Jets and Vikings rental to close his career, this one registers as sneakily plausible,” Benjamin explained this week. “The Vikings would surely prefer to re-sign current starter Sam Darnold, who’s fared reasonably well under Kevin O’Connell, but what if Darnold opts for a better-paying gig in 2025 free agency, confidence restored, ready to depart the lurking shadow of first-round pick J.J. McCarthy?”
Benjamin continued, “Minnesota might still want a placeholder as McCarthy returns from knee surgery, and Rodgers would be getting a ready-made lineup with the best offensive line, skill weapons and defense he’s had in years.”
“Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was in the San Francisco 49ers’ front office when the Niners reportedly tried to land Rodgers in 2021, and he’d also be betting on the vengeance factor, allowing Rodgers to play the Packers at least twice.”
Rodgers to Minnesota has also been mentioned by ESPN’s Kevin Seifert and a few Packers-themed voices.
Most of the Rodgers fodder is derived from his career parallel to Brett Favre, who played for the Packers for years (like Rodgers), left and joined the Jets (like Rodgers), and flamed out in New York (like Rodgers). Joining the Vikings is the last step of fruition, according to the parallel.
Daniel Jones
The New York Giants benched Jones this week in favor of Tommy DeVito. The Jones era in New York is over.
And because he’ll likely hit free agency soon, a working theory suggests that Minnesota could let quarterback Sam Darnold sign elsewhere in March while signing Jones for cheap(er). Of course, that’s only applicable if the Vikings aren’t comfortable with McCarthy as the unabashed QB1 in 2025.
KSTP’s Darren Wolfson swatted away Aaron Rodgers-themed rumors this week on SKOR North airwaves and mentioned Jones, “No, I don’t see any scenario where Aaron Rodgers lands here in Minnesota one year from now. I will say this: if we’re talking about a New York quarterback landing here, let’s talk about Daniel Jones.”
SI.com’s Jonathan Harrison also endorsed the theory: “With Darnold potentially exiting Minnesota after the season, the QB2 role behind McCarthy is left vacant. Jones would be an immediate upgrade over Nick Mullens in the role. If McCarthy struggles early on, the Vikings would be able to turn to an experienced player like Jones to give McCarthy more time to develop.”
McCarthy, as the 2025 QB1, is the smartest and safest bet to place, but Rodgers and Jones theories won’t stop until either man lands elsewhere. It’s the nature of the beast.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.