The Aaron Rodgers Update You’ve Been Waiting For
For a few weeks, the Minnesota Vikings have lived smack dab in the middle of the Aaron Rodgers rumor mill.
The Aaron Rodgers Update You’ve Been Waiting For
The 41-year-old quarterback evidently wants to lead the purple team in 2025, his former rival, and NFL-themed media has been relentless about connecting him to the Twin Cities, at least in spirit.
But as the calendar flipped to Wednesday, March 19th, Rodgers-to-Minnesota rumors bent sharply: he won’t join the Vikings.
The Rodgers Update
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted Wednesday, “And told the Vikings are not pursuing QB Aaron Rodgers and don’t consider him an option as they move into the next phase of the offseason, as Tom Pelissero, leaving J.J. McCarthy atop the QB depth chart. Again, Rodgers-Vikings was never likely. But it has been discussed.”
And Pelissero of NFL Network posted to X: “The Vikings have rejected multiple trade calls on J.J. McCarthy, telling other teams they’re moving forward with him as their quarterback, sources say. The team plans to add a veteran. But they’re not pursuing Aaron Rodgers at this time. McCarthy now enters the offseason as QB1.”
“The Vikings continue to explore multiple options for a veteran QB addition, whether through free agency or a trade. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers’ options are now focused on the Steelers and Giants,” Pelissero added.
So, that’s that.
This is the information many anti-Rodgers fanatics have waited for — tangible proof and confirmation that Rodgers to Minnesota isn’t happening.
Commitment to J.J. McCarthy
Minnesota drafted McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft, nominating him as the quarterback of the future. The club also added Sam Darnold one year ago as a “bridge quarterback” to McCarthy, but Darnold assumed a larger role last August when McCarthy tore his meniscus, canceling his rookie season.
Now, though, McCarthy is on a path to readiness for all purple activities this spring and summer.
Hopping in bed with Rodgers always seemed a bit strange, even if about 10% of the purple fan base remained absolutely fixated on the idea this month.
The Rodgers Waiting Game
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggested this week that Rodgers’ choice could just stay idle, perhaps past the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Do you draft someone? That’s about a month away, so all of us would like this done sooner rather than later. I don’t get the sense that Rodgers is in any kind of hurry at all. Could it drag out all the way to the draft like it did two years ago? Maybe it could,” Rapoport revealed.
In undiluted Brett Favre form, Rodgers has turned into a character in the last half-decade who totally craves attention and speculation about his future.
Some Vikings fans are already tired of the Rodgers debate, convinced that the club will hand the QB1 baton to McCarthy — the plan for the last 11 months. A small faction, though, craved Rodgers in purple, a throwback to the nostalgia of the Favre era from 2009 and 2010.
After Wednesday, that idea seems dead in the water.
QB2 Options behind McCarthy
But wait. There’s more. Minnesota curiously hasn’t signed a backup quarterback to support McCarthy in 2025. They’ll need one unless the grand plan is current QB2 Brett Rypien.
These are options to monitor — especially now with Rodgers crossed off the list per the intel from Tom Pelissero:
- Joe Flacco
- Trey Lance
- Drew Lock
- Ryan Tannehill
- Carson Wentz
- Jameis Winston
And via the trade market, as mentioned by Pelissero:
- Kirk Cousins (Falcons)
- Jake Haener (Saints)
- Sam Howell (Seahawks)
- Joe Milton (Patriots)
- Michael Pratt (Buccaneers)
- Anthony Richardson (Colts)
- Aidan O’Connell (Raiders)
- Kyle Trask (Buccaneers)
- Clayton Tune (Cardinals)
Most fans would prefer Minnesota to sign a free-agent passer if only to avoid donating future draft capital to another team via trade.
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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