NFL: New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
J.J. McCarthy certainly looks like he’ll be the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback in 2025. That hasn’t been determined yet, but after Daniel Jones went to Indianapolis and Sam Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks, there aren’t a lot of worthy veteran options remaining on the market.
And as of now, hands down the best QB1 veteran option available — if you’re looking for a starting QB who can legitimately lead a team to the postseason this year — is 41-year-old 4X AP MVP, Aaron Rodgers, who remains unsigned, and in no hurry to change that.
So until the Vikings sign another veteran backup or Rodgers inks a contract elsewhere, the possibility of adding the former rival QB will remain. Minnesota has the best QB coaching, best NFLPA survey results and most loaded roster of all Aaron’s possible options, bar-none. It is somewhat surprising to hear Minnesota safety Harrison Smith feed into the frenzy.
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith likes Aaron Rodgers
So, on Tuesday, when Smith went on the Up and Adams Show (with Kay Adams) and talked about how much he loves watching Aaron Rodgers play football… it was most certainly noteworthy. Like many ball guys, Harry the Hitman likes to watch high-level football, especially on the mental side. Thus, it’s no surprise one of his favorites to watch is Aaron Rodgers.
Aaron Rodgers is Minnesota Vikings Safety Harrison Smith's "favorite QB to watch."@heykayadams | @harrismith22 pic.twitter.com/nPnRP6LEUi
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 25, 2025
I will say [Aaron] Rodgers has been, you know I’ve played against him my whole career, he’s always my favorite quarterback to watch. And also my least favorite quarterback. He’s very tough to defend…I have a very great appreciation for him and his talent. Some of the throws he would make, I was just like what do you want us to do?
Harrison Smith on the “Up and Adams” show
Harrison Smith has seen Rodgers plenty over the years during his career. This will be the Vikings safety’s 14th season and he has 192 games under his belt. When Rodgers was with the Green Bay Packers, Smith saw him twice a season if not more including the playoffs.
Related: Vikings QB JJ McCarthy is Playing Golf, Looking Good and Giving Out Health Updates
Adams pressed Smith on what their conversations have been like on the field. He talked about the amount of pre-snap eye contact the pair shared, but then came up with a great anecdote from the Covid season in which no fans were allowed in the stadium.
“I would say the funniest one, I think it was the Covid year so it was dead quiet, he knew I was trying to disguise something and I was going to come down closer to the line of scrimmage. He was under center and took his hands out and was like, c’mon, c’mon. Like dude, you’re kind of disrespecting me with that one. That was funny.”
Up and Adams
As Smith said, he’s not going to speculate on the Vikings quarterback situation, but it’s impossible to ignore that Rodgers remains unsigned. He has an open offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers, but is very clearly trying to will himself to Minnesota.
Aaron Rodgers could give Vikings Smith a front row seat
Harrison Smith and Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Aaron Rodgers is not new to the NFL. He also has made nearly $400 million playing football. He doesn’t need more money, and certainly doesn’t want to find himself in another New York Jets scenario. While the Steelers would clearly love to have him throwing passes to D.K. Metcalf and George Pickens, a better option exists.
The Minnesota Vikings may have moved on from Rodgers when it comes to what has been publicly reported. Until they actually acquire a quarterback to pair with J.J. McCarthy though, Rodgers continues to have hope. The Vikings don’t need a starter, but Rodgers would effectively represent that.
Rodgers is looking to add onto his 503 career touchdown passes. He’d be able to do so in a substantial way while working with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Running back Aaron Jones is someone he knows well. Clearly he has a fan in Harrison Smith.
2 minutes of Aaron Rodgers dots up the seam. pic.twitter.com/mmZu5k7vvq
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) March 23, 2025
MN Vikings QB1 will be setup for success
Thankfully, Kevin O’Connell is the league’s top new quarterback whisperer. So far, that has allowed us to see the very best of every healthy QB who has played the position in Minnesota over the past three seasons.
Kirk Cousins found a new gear in 2022 and was on his way to an MVP in 2023, before he ruptured his achilles in Green Bay. Nonetheless, KOC found a way to get competent QB play out of Nick Mullens, Josh Dobbs and 5th round rookie, Jaren Hall for the back-half of that season.
Related: Vikings Extremely Confident in New Starting Safety
Then, of course, there’s what he did last season with Sam Darnold, making a former No. 3 overall bust into a legitimate MVP candidate, tossing for over 4,300 yards (66.2% completion rate), 35 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.
As long as the Minnesota Vikings have a QB opening, Kevin O’Connell and one of the most loaded rosters in the NFL — along with all the other things the have going for them — these Aaron Rodgers rumors aren’t going away anytime soon.
Mentioned in this article: Aaron Rodgers Harrison Smith NFL Free Agency NFL Offseason More About:Minnesota Vikings