NFL rumors, Aaron Rodgers
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Future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been at the center of NFL rumors for days with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants locked in a battle for his services. Then, the Minnesota Vikings entered the mix with all three teams competing for him. The saga has now taken another turn.
The Giants already seem to be moving on from the possibility of landing Rodgers, shifting their focus to another veteran quarterback in NFL free agency. While New York offered the opportunity to stay in the same region he spent the last two seasons, the choice seemed to come down to the Steelers and Vikings.
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Aaron Rodgers stats (ESPN): 3,897 passing yards, 28-11 TD-INT, 63% completion rate, 6.7 ypa, 90.5 QB rating, 40 sacks taken
Rodgers reportedly preferred Minnesota, viewing it as the best opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl with one of the best supporting casts in the NFL. However, he would have to compete for the starting job with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy whereas Pittsburgh would make him the unquestioned starter.
While it seemed to be a two-team race between the Vikings and Steelers, that is now in question with the four-time NFL MVP now seemingly willing to take things in a very different direction.
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According to The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver, Rodgers prefers to sign with the Vikings. However, if Minnesota decides not to move forward on a deal with him, it’s now “possible” that Rodgers will retire rather than play for the Steelers or Giants.
While New York has already been preparing to be turned down by Rodgers, Pittsburgh put all of its efforts into signing the All-Pro quarterback. It’s a strategy that, if Rodgers retires, could prove costly as Wilson already met with both the Giants and the Cleveland Browns.
If Wilson signs with New York or Cleveland, Pittsburgh would join the team that lost out on the veteran in desperate need of a quarterback with no viable options available in NFL free agency. It’s precisely the situation that the Atlanta Falcons were hoping for, forcing the Steelers to compete with another team in a bidding war for a Kirk Cousins trade.
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