There aren’t many options left for Aaron Rodgers to play in 2026 after the first wave of free agency.
Rodgers, 42, hasn’t made his decision about whether to retire or play in the upcoming season, though the expectation is that the four-time MVP makes his choice known sooner rather than later.
Rodgers led the Pittsburgh Steelers to an AFC North crown and a playoff appearance last season.
With his former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy leading the Steelers, staying in Pittsburgh (a team where there wouldn’t be a true quarterback battle) would seem to be the most likely choice for the quarterback.
The Minnesota Vikings appeared like a possibility earlier in the offseason, but the team signed Kyler Murray.
An executive for an NFL team that is looking at backup quarterbacks this offseason told Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom that Rodgers has two choices at this point. He can return to play for the Steelers or he could potentially join the Las Vegas Raiders.
"He either goes back to Pittsburgh," the executive told La Canfora, "or maybe he tries to get something done with Tom Brady (in Las Vegas), or he hangs it up. He wants to be a starter. It's down to those two teams… and that's if the Raiders really him. It's Pittsburgh or nothing, how I see it."
The Raiders are an interesting choice because they’re expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
While Mendoza could be the long-term solution for Las Vegas at quarterback, signing Rodgers would give the team time to develop the young quarterback before he makes his start in the NFL.
The Raiders have been exploring options to sign a veteran quarterback this offseason after trading Geno Smith to the New York Jets last week.
Las Vegas doesn’t plan to start Mendoza in Week 1, and having Rodgers on the team could allow the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner to learn from a legend in Year 1 before becoming the full-time starter in 2027.
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