Aaron Rodgers’ decision to is now down to three options after it was reported on Wednesday that the Minnesota Vikings will not pursue the veteran quarterback.
“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,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday. “The team plans to add a veteran. But they’re not pursuing Aaron Rodgers at this time. McCarthy now enters the offseason as QB1.”
That leaves two teams, the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, as his options to play for in 2025. There is also the possibility that Rodgers just retires instead of continuing to play at age 41.
In a recent article naming landing spots for the top remaining free agents, Nick Shook of NFL.com thinks Rodgers should go to New York, not Pittsburgh.
Aaron Rodgers prediction
“Rodgers appears to either be leveraging whatever remaining power he has over the Steelers or genuinely isn’t too keen on joining Pittsburgh,” Shook wrote. “I’ll end this madness for all of us: Keep Rodgers in New York and send him from the Jets’ locker room to the Giants’ digs inside MetLife Stadium. He is experienced at dealing with the New York media and could play the rare role of single-season hero for a Giants team that simply needs something better than what it’s gotten out of the QB position since Eli Manning retired after the 2019 season. That bar is incredibly low, and Rodgers would clear it if he could replicate his performance from the back end of 2024.”
If retirement isn’t on the table, then the decision for Rodgers should be quite easy. If he wants the best chance to win, the Steelers will offer him a better opportunity right now than the Giants will.
The Steelers went 10-7 last season before going one-and-done in the playoffs again. Pittsburgh beefed up its wide receivers room by adding DK Metcalf this offseason, and the defense should be one of the better units in the NFL in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Giants are a mess. Head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are both on the hot seat and could be fired after next season, which is notable because Rodgers reportedly wants to play multiple more years but could be jettisoned after one if they get fired. New York also doesn’t have as good of a one-two punch at wide receiver as the Steelers.
As far as a timeline for his decision is concerned, that remains up in the air. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Vikings decision does not change Rodgers’ timeline and he is “in no rush at all.”
It doesn’t look like the Aaron Rodgers waiting game is going to end anytime soon, but when it does, we think he’ll end up in Pittsburgh.
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