On Monday morning, NJ Advance Media’s Darryl Slater wrote a piece titled, “How much longer can the Giants afford to wait on Aaron Rodgers?”
It just so happened that hours after that was published, Sports Illustrated’s NFL insider Albert Breer answered that question in a story of his own, courtesy of a defensive coach in the AFC.
“I think the guy is still a beast,” said the AFC coach who played Rodgers at the end of the 2024 season. “Mentally and arm-talent-wise, he hasn’t dropped off at all. Now, his mobility and athleticism, of course, isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago. [But] if I’m a team and I need a quarterback right now, I don’t hesitate signing him.”
The coach then sent another text, “I would not flinch.”
So, that means, the waiting could be worth it.
After the Giants weren’t able to lure Matthew Stafford from the Los Angeles Rams, they shifted to Rodgers, the 41-year-old who was released by the New York Jets after a two-season tenure that featured a torn Achilles tendon and lots of losing and off-field drama interspersed with some decent football.
The Giants met with Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco last week and will host Jameis Winston early this week.
It seems that they could easily sign either of those guys, however, Rodgers remains the priority.
Last season with the New York Jets, Rodgers went 5-12 with the Jets, completing 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Per the same article at SI:
“He’s on the downside,” said one AFC exec whose team played the Jets late. “He still has the flashes of arm talent and accuracy. There’s a depreciation of the mobility that made him great, when he was that two-way, run/pass option player on every play. It’s relegated him to being more of a pocket-passing veteran. Do I think he can start for a year? I do. … He still sees the field well, has football intelligence, the quick release. His arm’s not quite what it was but with the right surrounding cast? Yes.”
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