Vikings Already Listed a Landing Spot for Long Time Foe
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.
Vikings Already Listed a Landing Spot for Long Time Foe
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?”
The contrary theory regarding Rodgers + Minnesota? Would the Vikings really look backward when McCarthy is ready to take the reins of QB1?
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.”
Minnesota would also have to compensate Rodgers handsomely — he probably wouldn’t sign on the dotted line for $10 million, which is Darnold’s current salary. A fat contract for Rodgers (or any veteran) would reduce the Vikings’ oft-advertised 2025 cap space to nubbins.
Generally speaking, adding Rodgers — who ranks 23rd leaguewide per EPA+CPOE through 11 weeks — is severely unlikely. He’ll be too expensive. He’s played terribly in his age-41 season. And Minnesota has a QB1 option 20 years younger than Rodgers.
But the rumor mill connecting Rodgers to the Vikings won’t stop until he retires or signs elsewhere. There are just too many Brett Favre parallels, as mentioned by Benjamin.
The Jets are nearing mathematic postseason elimination with Rodgers in charge after just 11 weeks.
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.
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